bassoon

American  

[ba-soon, buh-] / bæˈsun, bə- /

noun

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

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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

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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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bassoonist
  noun

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

We also included instruments like the bassoon, the harp, the trombone and obviously the saxophone.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

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

All along, the dancers were accompanied not only by Alonso and her bassoon but also by the amazingly wide-ranging voice of Fay Victor.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 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

Emma played the piano, Frank the bassoon, and Elizabeth, who was unmarried and also lived at home, shouted.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman