clarinet
Americannoun
noun
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Obsolete name: clarionet. a keyed woodwind instrument with a cylindrical bore and a single reed. It is a transposing instrument, most commonly pitched in A or B flat
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an orchestral musician who plays the clarinet
Discover More
The most famous American clarinetist was Benny Goodman.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of clarinet
1790–1800; < French clarinette, equivalent to Old French clarin clarion + -ette -ette
Explanation
A clarinet is a woodwind instrument. A clarinet has a simple, straight tube with intricate keys, a single-reed mouthpiece, and a flared, bell-shaped end. When you play the clarinet, you blow through the mouthpiece and make notes with your fingers on the keys. Clarinets are distinctive because they are straight, with a black body and silver keys, and have a large pitch range. The word clarinet comes from the French clarinette, the diminutive form of clarine. "little bell," which comes from clair, "bright or clear."
Vocabulary lists containing clarinet
Musical Instruments - Introductory
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Musical Instruments - Middle School
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Musical Instruments - High School
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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.
See Examples For:
After he was declared unfit to serve in the military due to a lung issue, he went on to play clarinet and saxophone in a band.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
Early in his life, Greenspan studied at the Juilliard School, where he focused on the clarinet and saxophone, according to his autobiography.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
One of the first things he conducted at Ojai was “Gnarly Buttons,” a clarinet concerto by the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
"I want other young people with JIA to know they shouldn't let it stop them doing what they love – for me, that's baking, writing, and playing the clarinet."
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026
Taking a deep breath, Cas picked up her bag with one hand and the clarinet case with the other, then headed out of the practice room.
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
The farmers and miners got to hear the most intoxicating music on Earth from brassy cornet players and driving saxophonists, exotic trombone mutes, squealing trumpets and sultry clarinets.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024
She gave as an example a scene at Eric’s ranch in Wyoming where “oboes and clarinets play triplets, suggesting someone riding a horse.”
From Washington Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
Unlike rice or cushions or clarinets, you can’t box up surplus electricity for later.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2023
Trumpets, trombones and clarinets echoed like yodelers in the Alps.
From New York Times ● Sep. 29, 2022
Some places they play choirs of bamboo clarinets.
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
