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• singer
  singer

  noun

  a person who sings, especially a trained or professional vocalist.
• Singer
  Singer

  noun

  Isaac Bashevis 1904–91, U.S. novelist and short-story writer (in Yiddish), born in Poland: Nobel Prize 1978.

singer

¹ American  

[sing-er] / ˈsɪŋ ər /

noun

1. a person who sings, especially a trained or professional vocalist.

2. a poet.

3. a singing bird.

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singer ² American  

[sin-jer] / ˈsɪn dʒər /

noun

1. a person or thing that singes.

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Singer ³ American  

[sing-er] / ˈsɪŋ ər /

noun

1. Isaac Bashevis 1904–91, U.S. novelist and short-story writer (in Yiddish), born in Poland: Nobel Prize 1978.

2. Isaac Merrit 1811–75, U.S. inventor.

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singer ¹ British  

/ ˈsɪŋə /

noun

1. a person who sings, esp one who earns a living by singing

2. a singing bird

3. an obsolete word for poet

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Singer ² British  

/ ˈsɪŋə /

noun

1. Isaac Bashevis. 1904–91, US writer of Yiddish novels and short stories; born in Poland. His works include Satan in Goray (1935), The Family Moscat (1950), the autobiographical In my Father's Court (1966), and The King of the Fields (1989): Nobel prize for literature 1978

2. Isaac Merrit. 1811–75, US inventor, who originated and developed an improved chain-stitch sewing machine (1852)

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Etymology

Origin of singer¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at sing, -er ¹

Origin of singer²

First recorded in 1870–75; singe + -er ¹

Explanation

A singer makes music with their voice. A singer may sing the lyrics, or words, of a song, or may just vocalize sounds like "la, la, la" or "tweet, tweet, tweet" in musical tones. Singing is one of the oldest forms of musical expression. A singer may perform on stage for thousands of adoring fans, or for guests at an intimate wedding reception. Perhaps you are a singer who likes to sing in the shower or croon along with a recording of your favorite artist. There are pop singers, rock singers, and opera singers. Some singers have high-pitched, soprano voices, while others sing in lower-pitched, tenor voices. Many birds, known as songbirds, are singers, and so are some whales!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

singer Singer

From next year's contest, the backing track may not "unduly assist" the singer or singers on stage, for example by including a pre-recorded voice singing the main melody to thicken or support the live performance.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The 81-year-old singer has been advised by doctors to recuperate for the next four weeks following a coronary stent procedure.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

A new live album, recorded in London in 1976, captures how the singer and the Wailers’ magnetic stage presence helped catapult them to new levels of fame.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

“It’s more about feelings than a physical place,” the singer told The Times in 1986.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

“Miss Luft,” he said, “this is Mr. Resch. Phil Resch, this is the quite well-known opera singer Luba Luft.”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta's algorithms had directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about the risks to young people.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Carlos Singer, chief policy officer for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, said in written comments submitted ahead of Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting that the chamber supports “the motion’s core relief provision.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Mark Singer, Funny Money, a great example of how people see what they want to see in pursuit of investments and neglect to do even basic due diligence, which leads to eventual financial ruin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Singer Callum Beattie's rendition of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – the 1970s disco tune recently adopted as Scotland's unofficial anthem - had the Scottish athletes dancing in their seats.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Except for her Dad, Mister Singer was the nicest man she knew.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• artist
• crooner
• diva
• musician
• soloist
• vocalist
• voice