instrumental

American  

[in-struh-men-tl] / ˌɪn strəˈmɛn tl /

adjective

1. serving or acting as an instrument or means; useful; helpful.

   Synonyms:

   effective, effectual, implemental

2. performed on or written for a musical instrument or instruments.

   instrumental music.

3. of or relating to an instrument or tool.

4. Grammar.

   1. (in certain inflected languages, as Old English and Russian) noting or pertaining to a case having as its distinctive function the indication of means or agency, as Old English beseah blīthe andweitan “looked with a happy countenance.”

   2. noting the affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.

   3. similar to such a case form in function or meaning, as the Latin instrumental ablative, gladiō, “by means of a sword.”

   4. (in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role of a noun phrase that indicates the inanimate, nonvolitional, immediate cause of the action expressed by a verb, as the rock in The rock broke the window or in I broke the window with the rock.

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noun

• instrumentals
  plural

1. Grammar.

   1. the instrumental case.

   2. a word in the instrumental case.

   3. a construction of similar meaning.

2. a musical composition played by an instrument or a group of instruments.

instrumental British  

/ ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. serving as a means or influence; helpful

2. of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments

3. played by or composed for musical instruments

4. grammar denoting a case of nouns, etc, in certain inflected languages, indicating the instrument used in performing an action, usually translated into English using the prepositions with or by means of

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noun

1. a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices

2. grammar

   1. the instrumental case

   2. a word or speech element in the instrumental case

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• instrumentality
  noun
• noninstrumental
  adjective
• uninstrumental
  adjective
• instrumentally
  adverb
• noninstrumentally
  adverb
• uninstrumentally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• instrumentals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of instrumental

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word instrūmentālis. See instrument, -al ¹

Explanation

Instrumental music involves just instruments — no singing. But you could also say that the conductor is instrumental to — or a critical part of — an orchestra's success. If you enjoy the ballet, part of it may be the instrumental music that accompanies the graceful movements. An instrumental song is one without a singer, and there can be instrumental passages of any song, where the band just plays and the singer is quiet. But this word also means something like useful. You could say that Martin Luther King, Jr. was an instrumental part of the civil rights movement because he was such an important part of it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

instrumental instrumentals

Pillay's work had been "instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted", said the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Jørgen Watne Frydnes.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

He was instrumental in creating the branding that came to be known as “Dodger Blue” and was directing the team’s marketing efforts when the Dodgers passed the 3-million mark in attendance for the first time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Mr. Sosa made able use of his small instrumental ensemble of string quartet, bass, percussion and keyboard to create mood, texture and propulsion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

He has been instrumental in implementing her strategy of "de-demonisation" to try and rid the party of the toxic legacy of its founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was openly antisemitic.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

He said, “She’s sixty-six, and her memory is better than mine and she looks young and healthy. She has more of her teeth than those who were instrumental in sending her to the institution.”

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

While past records often featured such incense-perfumed instrumentals as connecting interludes, here the background has been moved to the front.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Inspired by Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” Sonic Youth’s distortion, Black Sabbath’s symbolic lyricism and layered instrumentals, and surrealist artwork, “Mellon Collie” tested the Smashing Pumpkins’ limits as a band.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025

“Dennis Hopper” is a record of 25 interconnected songs, stories and instrumentals that explain who Dennis Hopper was, and why he’s worthy of this project.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2025

Vocals and instrumentals from Irish folk band Beoga, Aaron Rowe, BIIRD, and Sheeran came together for a rendition of The Parting Glass.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025

Hence, then, in the and why we have instrumental ablatives, or, simply, instrumentals.

From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham

Related Words

• involved