instrumental

[in-struh-men-tl]

adjective

1. serving or acting as an instrument or means; useful; helpful.

   Synonyms: effective, effectual, implemental

2. performed on or written for a musical instrument or instruments.

   instrumental music.

3. of or relating to an instrument or tool.

4. Grammar.

   1. (in certain inflected languages, as Old English and Russian) noting or pertaining to a case having as its distinctive function the indication of means or agency, as Old English beseah blīthe andweitan “looked with a happy countenance.”

   2. noting the affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.

   3. similar to such a case form in function or meaning, as the Latin instrumental ablative, gladiō, “by means of a sword.”

   4. (in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role of a noun phrase that indicates the inanimate, nonvolitional, immediate cause of the action expressed by a verb, as the rock in The rock broke the window or in I broke the window with the rock.

noun

1. Grammar.

   1. the instrumental case.

   2. a word in the instrumental case.

   3. a construction of similar meaning.

2. a musical composition played by an instrument or a group of instruments.

instrumental

/ ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. serving as a means or influence; helpful

2. of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments

3. played by or composed for musical instruments

4. grammar denoting a case of nouns, etc, in certain inflected languages, indicating the instrument used in performing an action, usually translated into English using the prepositions with or by means of

noun

1. a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices

2. grammar

   1. the instrumental case

   2. a word or speech element in the instrumental case

Other Word Forms

• instrumentality noun
• instrumentally adverb
• noninstrumental adjective
• noninstrumentally adverb
• uninstrumental adjective
• uninstrumentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of instrumental¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word instrūmentālis. See instrument, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Teachers say her boy is thriving, but Diane says the school has been instrumental in supporting his special educational needs and improving his speech and language.

From BBC

Abdu Husain, 28 from Cardiff was described as being "trusted and instrumental in the supply chain", and as being particularly aware of law enforcement tactics.

From BBC

Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA, has been instrumental in recruiting young Americans on college campuses to GOP voter rolls, making himself an indispensable part of Republican campaigns.

From Los Angeles Times

Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA, was instrumental in recruiting young Americans on college campuses to GOP voter rolls, making himself an indispensable part of Republican campaigns down ballot across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

He was instrumental in the New Labour project which saw Tony Blair win the 1997 election with a huge landslide.

From BBC

Related Words

• involved