1. a musical technique where emphasis is placed on normally unaccented beats or parts of beats
Usage: music
2. the shortening of a word by omitting sounds or letters from the middle
Usage: linguistics; grammar

Examples

• Jazz music is famous for its use of syncopation.
• The drummer added syncopation to make the rhythm more interesting.
• Ragtime piano relies heavily on syncopation for its distinctive sound.
• The word ‘fo’c’sle’ is a syncopation of ‘forecastle’.
• Syncopation in speech can make words easier to pronounce.
• The composer used syncopation to create an unexpected rhythmic pattern.
• Students struggled to clap along with the syncopation in the piece.