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Synonyms

accompanist

American  
[uh-kuhm-puh-nist, uh-kuhmp-nist] / əˈkʌm pə nɪst, əˈkʌmp nɪst /
Also accompanyist

noun

  1. Music. a person who plays an accompaniment.


accompanist British  
/ əˈkʌmpəniːɪst, əˈkʌmpnɪst, əˈkʌmpənɪst /

noun

  1. a person who plays a musical accompaniment for another performer, esp a pianist accompanying a singer

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of accompanist

First recorded in 1825–35; accompan(y) + -ist

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.

Steven Blier was 13 when he discovered his calling as an accompanist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

With the guitarist Millard Thomas, who would become his accompanist, and the playwright and novelist William Attaway, who would collaborate on many of his songs, he immersed himself in the study of folk music.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2023

He had little success at first as a songwriter, but he became a popular arranger and accompanist, touring with Vic Damone, the Ames Brothers and Polly Stewart, who became his first wife.

From Washington Times • Feb. 9, 2023

He frequently served as accompanist to former paramour Patti Smith.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2023

Despite warnings that the American public would not accept a white man playing piano for a black singer, Anderson decided to return to America with her Finnish accompanist, Kosti Vehanen.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman