falsetto

American  

[fawl-set-oh] / fɔlˈsɛt oʊ /

noun

plural

falsettos

1. an unnaturally or artificially high-pitched voice or register, especially in a man.

2. a person, especially a man, who sings with such a voice.

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adjective

1. of, noting, or having the quality and compass of such a voice.

adverb

1. in a falsetto.

falsetto British  

/ fɔːlˈsɛtəʊ /

noun

1. a form of vocal production used by male singers to extend their range upwards beyond its natural compass by limiting the vibration of the vocal cords

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Etymology

Origin of falsetto

1765–75; < Italian, equivalent to fals ( o ) (< Latin falsus false ) + -etto -et

Example Sentences

As it unfolds, Mr. Ellis’s voice effortlessly slides between registers, conveying shifts in emphasis by judicious use of falsetto, which is often layered via multitrack.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Cowboys and Angels” is laid-back and jazzy, while the humid “Soul Free” similarly boasts funky flutes and a falsetto detour, and acoustic guitars and warm harmonies give “Heal the Pain” a Beatles-esque feel.

From Salon

His falsetto found new registers of rapture and longing.

From Los Angeles Times

Christie’s fans screamed over his signature falsetto when “Two Faces Have I” made it to No. 6 on the Billboard 100 in 1963, the year he released his self-titled first album.

From Los Angeles Times

“When the group reaches the word ‘and,’ his falsetto harmony part is distinct.

From Salon

Related Words

• singer