synthesizer

American  

[sin-thuh-sahy-zer] / ˈsɪn θəˌsaɪ zər /

noun

• synthesizers
  plural

1. a person or thing that synthesizes.

2. any of various electronic, sometimes portable consoles or modules, usually computerized, for creating, modifying, and combining tones or reproducing the sounds of musical instruments by controlling voltage patterns, operated by means of keyboards, joysticks, sliders, or knobs.

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synthesizer British  

/ ˈsɪnθɪˌsaɪzə /

noun

1. an electrophonic instrument, usually operated by means of a keyboard and pedals, in which sounds are produced by voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers, with an envelope generator module that controls attack, decay, sustain, and release

2. a person or thing that synthesizes

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• synthesizers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of synthesizer

First recorded in 1865–70; 1905–10 synthesizer for def. 2; synthesize + -er ¹

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Explanation

A synthesizer is a musical instrument that has a keyboard like a piano but can sound like just about any instrument in the world. The usually small, modest keyboard of a synthesizer can be deceiving — it's not just an electronic piano. Synthesizers can mimic the sound of a saxophone, drums, hand claps, or even an orchestra's entire string section. Some synthesizers even let you play a recorded sound and then manipulate it so it sounds just the way you want it to. Synthesizer comes from synthesize, "combine two or more things," and its Greek root synthesis, "a putting together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

synthesizer synthesizers

Visually, the entire set was stunning, with fast cuts of Nancy Whang pounding on her keyboard, Al Doyle whirring his synthesizer, and Murphy shouting into his microphone, wrapped around his arm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Born in Frankston, Texas in 1949, Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969 and followed the three-man band's progression from heavy blues to its experimental synthesizer sound of the 1980s.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

The midtempo “Ridin’ High” starts with a descending harp glissando that pours into a synthesizer seasoned by a vibraslap’s rattlesnake hiss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

It opens with rumbling drums, a wandering upright bass, and an atmospheric synthesizer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026

Nico opens up a bass synthesizer and uses the computer keys to lay down a bass line.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Throughout their discography, Irreversible Entanglements have seamlessly incorporated electronic elements such as synthesizers and modern postproduction into many of their compositions, which primarily feature otherwise organic instrumentation and textures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026

But EsDeeKid’s visceral tracks, full of slicing synthesizers and blown-out bass, have been embraced in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026

The next track has a 35-letter, one-word title—abbreviated here as “Supergroovalistic”—and is a chunky, hypnotic song that makes strong use of synthesizers and electric keyboards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025

Even so, there was no budget left for the music, Franglen had to borrow equipment and instruments from the manufacturers, and the majority of the score was recorded on synthesizers in a rented apartment.

From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025

I didn’t recognize the song, but I recognized David Gilmour’s voice, and the ebb and flow of Pink Floyd’s synthesizers.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

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