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
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Following the birth of her daughter, Stone spent years as a backup performer, including a stint performing saxophone on tour for Lenny Kravitz. Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2025 For a staggering scene in which Tóth and his patron, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), visit a marble quarry in Carrara, Italy, Blumberg went to a valley to record ambient sound and later applied it to a saxophone part played by soloist Evan Parker. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025 Went up to the mountains, to a pawn shop, got a saxophone. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2025 This personal touch builds trust and makes future collaborations smoother than a jazz saxophone solo. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for saxophone

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saxophone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saxophone. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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

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