instrumentation

[ in-struh-men-tey-shuhn ]

/ ˌɪn strə mɛnˈteɪ ʃən /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for instrumentation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the arranging of music for instruments, especially for an orchestra.

the list of instruments for which a composition is scored.

the use of, or work done by, instruments.

instrumental agency; instrumentality.

the science of developing, manufacturing, and utilizing instruments, especially those used in science and industry.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of instrumentation

1835–45; instrument (v.) + -ation

Words nearby instrumentation

instrumentalism, instrumentalist, instrumentality, instrumental learning, instrumentarium, instrumentation, instrumented, instrument flying, instrument landing, instrument panel, in style

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use instrumentation in a sentence

All the same instrumentation we need to add to a scooter to make it autonomous can benefit a rider, too.
Shared scooters aren’t always where you need them. A U-Md. researcher has a plan for that.|Michael Laris|July 29, 2021|Washington Post
However, it was normalizing in a way that left me cold, emphasizing vocals at the expense of instrumentation.
Sony WH-1000XM4 review: Noise-cancelling headphones you can live in|Tony Ware|July 23, 2021|Popular-Science
Professional work in medical diagnostics for Sehgal and lab instrumentation for Pinto kept both busy, but they continued their discussions around plant science and soil health.
Nordetect’s system to monitor soil and water for indoor agriculture raises seed funding|Jonathan Shieber|March 19, 2021|TechCrunch
The orchestra parts and instrumentation were recorded in late June, but by then, Birkin fell ill and required hospitalization.
Jane Birkin is back with a new album, but her presence is everlasting|Jeff Weiss|March 19, 2021|Washington Post

Officials at the nuclear station, near the Gulf Coast midway between Houston and Corpus Christi, believe frozen instrumentation is to blame for the reactor tripping offline.
Texas, the go-it-alone state, is rattled by the failure to keep the lights on|Will Englund, Steven Mufson, Dino Grandoni|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
But each time, we change the instrumentation very drastically.
Meet Alexandre Desplat, Hollywood’s Master Composer|Andrew Romano|February 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The band sounds more mature, like a fuzzier T. Rex, and the instrumentation here is awe-inspiring.
Best Music Albums of 2011: The Weeknd, Drake, Britney Spears, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Anton Rubinstein had set him a second task—the translation of Gevaerts treatise on Instrumentation.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
I must take this opportunity of setting right a little mistake in the instrumentation.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
A musician may have mastered the mechanical trick of instrumentation, and yet his works may not be at heart orchestral.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
Some parts show an increased knowledge of instrumentation, and seem to bear the impress of a firmer hand.
Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music|Charles Gounod
The instrumentation, also, though quite in the Mozart style has nevertheless, some original characteristics.
Louis Spohr's Autobiography|Louis Spohr

British Dictionary definitions for instrumentation

instrumentation

/ (ˌɪnstrəmɛnˈteɪʃən) /

noun

the instruments specified in a musical score or arrangement

the arrangement of a piece of music for an orchestra; orchestration

the study of the characteristics of musical instruments

the use of instruments or tools

means; agency

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

instrumentation

Origin of instrumentation

Words nearby instrumentation

Words related to instrumentation

How to use instrumentation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for instrumentation