sinfonia

noun

sin·​fo·​nia ˌsin-fə-ˈnē-ə 

plural sinfonie ˌsin-fə-ˈnē-ˌā 

1

: an orchestral prelude to a vocal work (such as an opera) especially in the 18th century : overture

2

: ritornello sense 1, symphony sense 2c

Examples of sinfonia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Brioschi’s sinfonia, Spagnolo explained, was the overture to a Hebrew cantata, the kind of production that regularly involved the collaboration of Jews and non-Jews. — Collin Ziegler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Jan. 2026

Not Wagner but Mozart will accompany the Bruckner at Carnegie Hall, in the form of six piano concertos and two sinfonias concertante. — David Allen, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin symphonia symphony

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sinfonia

• sinfonia concertante

Rhymes for sinfonia

• aphonia
• chelonia
• cladonia
• colonia
• dystonia
• harmonia
• koinonia
• oogonia
• polonia
• zirconia
• catatonia
• hypotonia