noun
saxophone
SAK-suh-fohn
Saxophone (noun) means a brass wind instrument with a single reed, curved body, and upturned bell, common in jazz and marching bands. Example: “She played a soulful saxophone solo halfway through the song.”
noun
1
A brass wind instrument with a single reed, curved body, and upturned bell, common in jazz and marching bands.
"She played a soulful saxophone solo halfway through the song."
"The saxophone was invented in the 1840s but is a fixture of modern jazz."
2
A person who plays the saxophone.
"Their band needed a saxophone for the new arrangement."
How to use saxophone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA curved brass reed instrument, best known from jazz music, despite being classed as a woodwind.
Memory tip
It looks and sounds like brass but is technically a woodwind instrument because it uses a reed.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
play the saxophone
saxophone solo
alto saxophone
tenor saxophone
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like saxophone.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- saxophones
- Third person singular
- saxophones
- Past tense
- saxophoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She played a soulful _____ solo halfway through the song.
Etymology
Named after its inventor, the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax, combined with the Greek-derived ending "-phone" meaning "sound."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for saxophone
See all rhymes for saxophone →Frequently asked questions
What does “saxophone” mean?
The word “saxophone” means a brass wind instrument with a single reed, curved body, and upturned bell, common in jazz and marching bands. In plain terms, a curved brass reed instrument, best known from jazz music, despite being classed as a woodwind.
How do you pronounce “saxophone”?
“Saxophone” is pronounced SAK-suh-fohn (/ˈsæksəˌfoʊ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “saxophone” in a sentence?
Here is “saxophone” used in a sentence: “She played a soulful saxophone solo halfway through the song.”
What part of speech is “saxophone”?
“Saxophone” is a noun.
Where does the word “saxophone” come from?
The word “saxophone” comes from Greek. Named after its inventor, the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax, combined with the Greek-derived ending "-phone" meaning "sound.".
How many meanings does “saxophone” have?
“Saxophone” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brass wind instrument with a single reed, curved body, and upturned bell, common in jazz and marching bands.
