bassoon

American  

[ba-soon, buh-] / bæˈsun, bə- /

noun

• bassoons
  plural

1. a large woodwind instrument of low range, with a doubled tube and a curved metal crook to which a double reed is attached.

---

bassoon British  

/ bəˈsuːn /

noun

1. a woodwind instrument, the tenor of the oboe family. Range: about three and a half octaves upwards from the B flat below the bass staff

2. an orchestral musician who plays the bassoon

---

bassoon Cultural  

1. The second largest and second lowest pitched of the woodwinds. (The less common contrabassoon is larger and has a lower pitch.) It is played with a double reed.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bassoonist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bassoons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bassoon

1720–30; < French basson < Italian bassone ( bass ( o ) low ( see base ²) + -one augmentative suffix)

Explanation

A bassoon is a musical instrument with a low, rich tone. A bassoon is like a deep, bass version of an oboe. In the category of woodwind instruments, which have reeds that rest on the musician's lips as she plays, the bassoon is the deepest-sounding. You will probably hear at least one bassoon if you attend a band or orchestral concert. The word bassoon comes from the 17th century French basson, sharing a Latin root with bass — bassus, or "low."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bassoon bassoons

Otto Mortensen’s Quintet for Winds followed, providing a showcase for players on flute, oboe/English horn, clarinet, bassoon and French horn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

The brass and winds would have benefited from being placed on risers, giving more acoustical and theatrical freedom to the stunning, mournful bassoon solos and abandoned brass outbursts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2023

But it was still marred by a muddled Infernal Dance, for example, and an overly tentative bassoon solo at the start of the “Rite.”

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2023

A daughter of musical parents, soprano Christiane Stutzmann and bass Christian Dupuy, Nathalie learned piano when she was young, then cello and bassoon.

From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2023

“Byong'ho,” he now calls me, his voice like a bassoon.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

It was illuminating to hear the period-instrument orchestra—led by Geoffrey Loff, who also played keyboard—with its softer strings and prominent bassoons, though the continuo cellist struggled with coordination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

It's a deliciously strange, herky-jerky pop number, orchestrated by synth bassoons and merry-go-round organs.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2024

Beautiful bassoons and oboes opened the second movement, the slow poke of the horn a touch too insistent, and Rachlin offered his softer side.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2022

Featured instruments will include guitars, harmonicas, accordions, trombones, bassoons, French horns, synthesizers, ukuleles, djembes, harps and voices.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2017

"May I have flutes, clarinets, oboes—I don't suppose we have any bassoons? Ah! But there is one! Come up, come up!"

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper