gamut

American  

[gam-uht] / ˈgæm ət /

noun

1. the entire scale or range.

   the gamut of dramatic emotion from grief to joy.

   Synonyms:

   extent, reach, scope, breadth, sweep

2. Music.

   1. the whole series of recognized musical notes.

   2. the major scale.

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gamut British  

/ ˈgæmət /

noun

1. entire range or scale, as of emotions

2. music

   1. a scale, esp (in medieval theory) one starting on the G on the bottom line of the bass staff

   2. the whole range of notes

3. physics the range of chromaticities that can be obtained by mixing three colours

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Etymology

Origin of gamut

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin; contraction of gamma ut, equivalent to gamma, used to represent the first or lowest tone (G) in the medieval scale + ut (later do ); the notes of the scale ( ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si ) being named from a Latin hymn to St. John the Baptist: Ut queant laxis re sonare fibris. Mi ra gestorum fa muli tuorum, Sol ve polluti la bii reatum, S ancte I ohannes

Example Sentences

They run the gamut from high-level careers in AI strategy to hourly work, in industries including finance, healthcare and manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The rugged individualists’ arguments run the gamut from a sincere nostalgia — many chairs designed and installed in the 20th century didn’t even have safety bars, they note — to the intentionally absurd.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

"One Battle After Another" ran the gamut of California locations, from north to south.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Clorox brands include eponymous cleaners and run the gamut of consumer products, including Fresh Step cat litter, Kingsford charcoal and Hidden Valley Ranch dressings.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

He’d been through the whole gamut of emotions in the short time since he’d arrived at the Glade.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner

Related Words

• spectrum