instrumentalist
Americannoun
-
a person who plays a musical instrument
-
philosophy a person who believes in the doctrines of instrumentalism
adjective
Etymology
Origin of instrumentalist
First recorded in 1815–25; instrumental + -ist
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.
But Parton — the songwriter, the vocalist, the instrumentalist, the collaborator — only ever wanted to invite a listener in, wherever they arrive from.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
"People felt that ACE was pursuing access to culture in an instrumentalist way and had lowered the priority given to the pursuit of artistic excellence. Art and excellence were sidelined," Dame Margaret wrote.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
Sometimes Robinson’s truth seeker is the man anchoring the beat, and sometimes he’s the instrumentalist testing the edges of what the audience can withstand.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2025
The French composer and instrumentalist scored hundreds of films—including the bittersweet movie musical “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Like any other performance skill, it can be learned with practice, and it is a skill that will help you become an extremely versatile instrumentalist.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
