saxophone

noun

sax·​o·​phone ˈsak-sə-ˌfōn How to pronounce saxophone (audio)
: one of a group of single-reed woodwind instruments usually ranging from soprano to bass and characterized by a conical metal tube and finger keys
saxophonic adjective
saxophonist
ˈsak-sə-ˌfō-nist How to pronounce saxophone (audio)
 especially British  sak-ˈsä-fə-
noun

Illustration of saxophone

Illustration of saxophone

Examples of saxophone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Duranguense, known by its mix of saxophone, keyboard, and tambora, peaked in the mid-2000s. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace swaps raucous raptures for meditation, leaving his saxophone at the door in favor of various woodwinds. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 At its 1928 Carnegie Hall premiere, Gershwin’s iconic masterpiece was a spirited composition, meant to reflect the kaleidoscope of sights and sounds on the streets of Paris with instruments that include real Parisian taxi horns, a trumpet, saxophone and snare drum. Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 One photo showed Garner posing proudly for the camera, holding her saxophone and wearing her band uniform. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 The second half of Young’s four-night run features a tribute to Alice Coltrane with special guests Ravi Coltrane, Alice’s son, on saxophones, and flutist Nicole Mitchell. Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Many people stayed for the official afterparty, held in the building next door, where the highlight was a saxophone player wearing a dog mask who accompanied the DJ’s selections. Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024 As a teen, Uchis played saxophone in her high school jazz band, while hopping from rasta to punk parties with her cousins during visits to Colombia. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 Such an experience is not limited to tennis rackets but includes every tool humans create and master: brooms, rakes, spoons, fishing rods, needles, saws, pencils, paintbrushes, saxophones, computer mice, prosthetics, wheelchairs and far more. Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saxophone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Antoine-Joseph (or Adolphe) Sax †1894 Belgian instrument maker + French -phone

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saxophone was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near saxophone

Cite this Entry

“Saxophone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saxophone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

saxophone

noun
sax·​o·​phone ˈsak-sə-ˌfōn How to pronounce saxophone (audio)
: a musical instrument of the woodwind class consisting of a usually curved metal tube with finger keys and a reed mouthpiece
saxophonist noun
Etymology

named for Antoine "Adolph" Sax 1814–1894 a Belgian maker of musical instruments

More from Merriam-Webster on saxophone

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