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The imitation of the fugue subject by the second voice, typically at the fifth above (dominant). A "real" answer is exact transposition; a "tonal" answer adjusts intervals to stay within the key.
Decide whether your subject needs a real or tonal answer. If the subject prominently features the fifth degree, a tonal answer (adjusting the fifth to the tonic) prevents the music from modulating too far. Most subjects that begin or end on the dominant need tonal answers.
Bach's Fugue in C major, WTC Book I — the answer is tonal, adjusting the opening interval to maintain tonal stability.
Answer is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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