alto

¹ American  

[al-toh] / ˈæl toʊ /

noun

plural

altos

1. the lowest female voice; contralto.

2. the highest male voice; countertenor.

3. a singer with such a voice.

4. a musical part for such a voice.

5. the second highest of the four parts of a mixed vocal chorus, or the voices or persons singing this part.

6. the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments, as the viola in the violin family or the althorn in the cornet family.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or having the tonal range of the alto.

2. (of a musical instrument) second highest in a family of musical instruments.

   alto saxophone.

alto- ² American  

1. variant of alti-.

   altostratus.

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alto ¹ British  

/ ˈæltəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult male voice; countertenor

2. (in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto

3. a singer with such a voice

4. another name for viola 1

5. a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

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adjective

1. denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

alto- ² British  

combining form

1. high

   altocumulus

   altostratus

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alto Cultural  

1. The lowest range of the female singing voice, also called contralto. (Compare mezzo soprano and soprano.)

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Etymology

Origin of alto

1775–85; < Italian < Latin altus high

Example Sentences

But to see instrumentalists like Lakecia Benjamin who has really come to the forefront as an alto saxophonist and to see her get Grammy nominations, that’s something that, for me, is huge.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Yvonne Lanauze’s vocal is modest, but the track blossoms in the instrumental solos—Hodges’s alto sax singing with quiet poise, and Tyree Glenn’s trombone talking with emotion and eloquence, raising the whole performance to another level.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

“Strasbourg 82” displays how he shaped a cohesive whole from the voices of musicians mostly decades his junior, and how he nurtured future stars including, here, Mr. Blanchard and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

"Her rich alto voice sounded like she was still singing in church, but the lyrics were pure 70s pop/soul," noted US music source Soul Tracks of the track.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2025

She began singing in her strong, clear alto.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee