percussion

American  

[per-kuhsh-uhn] / pərˈkʌʃ ən /

noun

1. the striking of one body against another with some sharpness; impact; blow.

2. Medicine/Medical. the striking or tapping of the surface of a part of the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

3. the striking of a musical instrument to produce tones.

4. Music.

   1. the section of an orchestra or band comprising the percussion instruments.

   2. the percussion instruments themselves.

5. a sharp blow for detonating a percussion cap or the fuze of an artillery shell.

6. the striking of sound on the ear.

7. the act of percussing.

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percussion British  

/ pəˈkʌʃən /

noun

1. the act, an instance, or an effect of percussing

2. music the family of instruments in which sound arises from the striking of materials with sticks, hammers, or the hands

3. music

   1. instruments of this family constituting a section of an orchestra, band, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a percussion ensemble

4. med the act of percussing a body surface

5. the act of exploding a percussion cap

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percussion Cultural  

1. A family of musical instruments played by striking their surfaces. Percussion instruments are used to accentuate and dramatize certain notes or rhythms and include instruments such as cymbals, drums, triangles, and xylophones. (See kettledrum, snare drum, and orchestra.)

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Other Word Forms

• percussional adjective

Etymology

Origin of percussion

1535–45; < Latin percussiōn- (stem of percussiō ) a beating. See percuss, -ion

Explanation

Percussion is music involving drums and other instruments such as gongs, bells, cymbals, rattles, and tambourines. The instruments themselves are also called percussion. How do percussion instruments differ from guitars, horns, and pianos? They are struck to produce loudness, while the other instruments are strummed or blown into, or have keys that are depressed to produce notes. Percussion comes from the Latin word percussionem, which means "a striking, a blow." And those who think percussion evolved with modern jazz and rock and roll will be surprised to learn the word was first used in 1776 to describe musical instruments.

Example Sentences

The percussion pounds like nobody’s business, opening the score up to all the implied emotion and glitter on an over-stuffed stage.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

The chord progression and clattery percussion on “Dead Women” evoke “Lay Lady Lay,” while Mitski’s song imagines someone pawing through her things after death, trying to uncover her secrets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

He added that he has often been offended by "people who have cliches about African music, who expect Africa to produce a certain type of sound" via instruments such as the kora or percussion.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Sandy percussion accompanies a journey up the Orinoco River.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

It took only seconds for a thunderous percussion of goatskin drums to join the singing, and instinctively Koffi's own heart attuned to their pounding cadence.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray