syncopation

S1Y4N1C3O1P3A1T1I1O1N1
/ˌsɪŋ.kəˈpeɪ.ʃən/

noun

The contraction of a word by means of loss or omission of sounds or syllables in the middle thereof.

Similar
syncope
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounsyncopation (usually uncountable, plural syncopations)

plural syncopations

  1. uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesThe contraction of a word by means of loss or omission of sounds or syllables in the middle thereof.
  2. uncountableusuallyentertainmentThe quality of a rhythm being somehow unexpected, in that it deviates from the strict succession of regularly spaced strong and weak beats in a meter.

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(phonology) the loss of sounds from within a word (as in ‘fo'c'sle’ for ‘forecastle’)

Similar
syncope
Broader
articulation
Also see
syncope

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From syncopate + -ion. The phonological sense was first attested in English in the 1530's, the musical sense in the 1590's.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese 切分, 切分音
  • 切分 (qiēfēn)rhythm quality
  • 切分音 (qiēfēnyīn)rhythm quality
Chinese Mandarin 字中音省略
  • 字中音省略 (zìzhōngyīnshěnglüè)phonology: loss of sounds
Finnish synkopee, synkopaatio
  • synkopeephonology: loss of sounds
  • synkopaatiorhythm quality
French syncopation
  • syncopationrhythm quality
Greek συγκοπή, συγκοπή
  • συγκοπή (sygkopí)phonology: loss of sounds
  • συγκοπή (sygkopí)rhythm quality
Hungarian szinkópa, szinkópa
  • szinkópaphonology: loss of sounds
  • szinkóparhythm quality
Irish meánchoimriú
  • meánchoimriúphonology: loss of sounds
Japanese シンコペーション
  • シンコペーション (shinkopēshon)rhythm quality
Latin syncopātiō
  • syncopātiōphonology: loss of sounds
Māori taki aruaru
  • taki aruarurhythm quality
Portuguese síncope, sincopação
  • síncoperhythm quality
  • sincopaçãorhythm quality
Swedish synkope, synkopering
  • synkopephonology: loss of sounds
  • synkoperingrhythm quality
  • synkoprhythm quality
Cite this entry
APA

syncopation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syncopation

MLA

“syncopation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syncopation. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “syncopation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syncopation.

Source: syncopation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.