musician
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for musician, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who plays a musical instrument or composes music, whether as a job or a hobby.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use musician
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French musicien, built from music plus the agent suffix -ian.
Full origin of musician →Frequently asked questions
What does “musician” mean?
The word “musician” means a person who plays a musical instrument or composes music, whether as a job or a hobby. In plain terms, someone who plays, sings, or composes music.
How do you pronounce “musician”?
“Musician” is pronounced myoo-ZIH-shuhn (/mjuˈzɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “musician” in a sentence?
Here is “musician” used in a sentence: “His father was a jazz musician who toured Europe in the 1970s.”
What part of speech is “musician”?
“Musician” is a noun.
Where does the word “musician” come from?
The word “musician” comes from Old French. From Old French musicien, built from music plus the agent suffix -ian.
Is “musician” a common word?
“Musician” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a musician and an artist?
A musician is anyone who plays an instrument or composes music, professionally or as a hobby. In the music industry, artist usually means a performer who records or releases music under their own name or act. Session players are musicians but not artists in that industry sense, while every recording artist in music is also a musician.
Is a singer a musician?
Most people say yes, treating the voice as a musical instrument, and professional vocalists are routinely described as musicians. Stricter definitions centre on playing an instrument or composing, which is why the phrase "singers and musicians" also survives. In practice, calling a singer a musician is normal and widely accepted.
What is the difference between a musician and a composer?
A composer writes music, while musician is the broader word covering anyone who plays an instrument or composes. Every composer is therefore a musician, but a performer who only plays other people's works is a musician without being a composer.
Can an amateur be called a musician?
Yes. A musician is a person who plays a musical instrument or composes music whether as a job or a hobby, so amateurs qualify. Professional musician is the specific term for someone who earns a living from music.