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 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 Proudfoot: What guided the look of the movie was the very real practice of putting a lightbulb down a saxophone, or anything with valves, to see if there’s a leak. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Classical saxophone The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s annual Classical Roots event has celebrated the contributions of African American composers and artists for nearly fifty years. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024 Karpman is nominated for her score for Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, a jazz soundtrack that comes alive with the use of multiple pianos and saxophones, as well as clarinets, trumpets, bass, drums and a string orchestra. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024 Her father, who was born in Puerto Rico, played the clarinet and saxophone with the U.S. Navy Band and the Harry James Orchestra. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 Both those parts were written by Evan Smith, who’s one of our saxophone players. Justin Curto, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2024 While Metallica typically performs with a singer, two guitarists, a drummer and a bassist, Oakton’s band needed sheet music for more than a dozen marching band instruments, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, tubas, flutes, and bass and snare drums. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 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 19 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!