instrument
Americannoun
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a mechanical tool or implement, especially one used for delicate or precision work.
surgical instruments.
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a contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds.
a stringed instrument.
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a means by which something is effected or done; agency.
an instrument of government.
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a device for measuring the present value of a quantity under observation.
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a mechanical or electronic measuring device, especially one used in navigation.
landing a plane by instruments.
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a formal legal document, as a draft or bond.
negotiable instruments.
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a person used by another merely as a means to some private end; tool or dupe.
verb (used with object)
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to equip with instruments, as a machine or manufacturing process.
to instrument a space vehicle.
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to arrange a composition for musical instruments; orchestrate.
noun
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a mechanical implement or tool, esp one used for precision work
surgical instrument
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music any of various contrivances or mechanisms that can be played to produce musical tones or sounds
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an important factor or agency in something
her evidence was an instrument in his arrest
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informal a person used by another to gain an end; dupe; tool
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a measuring device, such as a pressure gauge or ammeter
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a device or system for use in navigation or control, esp of aircraft
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( as modifier )
instrument landing
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a formal legal document
verb
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another word for orchestrate
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to equip with instruments
Usage
What are other ways to say instrument? An instrument is a mechanical contrivance, especially one used for delicate or precision work. When should you use this noun over tool, implement, or utensil? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has instrumentedperfect 3rd person singular
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have instrumentedperfect
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are instrumentingprogressive
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has been instrumentingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been instrumentingperfect progressive
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is instrumentingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am instrumentingprogressive 1st person singular
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instrumentssingular 3rd person
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instrumentingparticiple
Past
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had instrumentedperfect
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had been instrumentingperfect progressive
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was instrumentingprogressive singular
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were instrumentingprogressive plural
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instrumentedparticiple
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instrumentedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of instrument
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin instrūmentum equipment, equivalent to instrū-, stem of instruere “to equip” ( see instruct) + -mentum -ment
Explanation
An instrument is usually a tool for making music, like a piano or a guitar, but it can also be used for almost any kind of tool or thing you use to get something done. A thermometer is an instrument for measuring temperature. A violin is an instrument used for making music. Recent economic woes were blamed on the abuse of certain financial instruments, which is just a fancy way of saying "deals." Your eye is a very sensitive light-collecting instrument, though you'll need a man-made instrument, like an X-ray telescope, if you want to see light outside of the visible spectrum.
Vocabulary lists containing instrument
Macbeth's "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy
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List 3
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John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 10 largest investment exposures the firm reported in the first quarter of this year included a private-credit instrument managed by alternative-asset giant TPG.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
"There was no instrument in the room. He used a wooden table as a percussion instrument and sang. But the producer was impressed," says Amaran.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
We recorded a tumbadero, which is an instrument used in plena, recorded by Luis “Lagarto” Figueroa.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
A perfect score indicates no errors on the screening instrument, but clinicians emphasize that the result is interpreted in context and is not considered evidence of exceptional intelligence.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
Learn any alternate fingerings and other "tricks" available on your instrument for fine-tuning each note as you play.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
