plural saxes
informal
: saxophone
plays sax in a local jazz ensemble
often used before another noun
a sax player
The transmission, as one editor put it, "is as smooth as a Paul Desmond sax solo."John Phillips

Examples of sax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And from the sax player to the drummer, that band was a knockout. Joe Lynch, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2024 Its arrangement is pristine and intoxicating: yearning strings, stately brass, a tenor sax that coils itself around the lush oohs and ahhs of the track's backup singers like a satin ribbon. Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2023 Every detail is perfect: Robertson’s guitar, Rick Danko’s voice, Garth Hudson’s sax. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2023 There was a lot of sax, cheesy choreography, and a wild breakdown, but Cyrus’s impromptu comments stole the show. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024 On the service right now are films such as Blazing Saddles, California Split, Chinatown, and noted sax scene-haver The Conversation — all of which are celebrating the big 5-0. Vulture, 18 Jan. 2024 But Roach had gotten his professional start two years earlier when, not yet 17, he was hired by former Count Basie tenor sax star Lester Young. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2024 The all-ages Dizzy’s in Bay Park turned 23 this year and hosted the debut area concert by guitar wizard Pasquale Grasso and the first concert anywhere by 14-year-old sax dynamo Kahlil Childs and his new quintet. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2023 Eastwood’s affinity for the sax isn’t a recent development. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 19 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sax was circa 1923

Dictionary Entries Near sax

Cite this Entry

“Sax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sax. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sax

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sax

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