percussion

American  

[per-kuhsh-uhn] / pərˈkʌʃ ən /

noun

• percussions
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• percussional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• percussions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of percussion

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

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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

See Examples For:

percussion percussions

Though the song starts out hushed, the metallic percussion hints at industrial music, and when the strings arrive they lean toward Eastern European-style modal melodies, lending a colorful and slightly kitschy swoon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

The facility will offer infrared saunas, steam rooms, hot and cold contrast therapies, compression and percussion treatments, and private treatment rooms.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

“Heavy Metal” mostly leaned minimal, with spare electronics and occasional percussion, and here Mr. Winter’s piano is thick with chords and repeating pulses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

He played piano and percussion as a child and later guitar as an adult, but “put all of that away for many years,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Right before I enter the mailroom, I hear the English-accented voice and a whole percussion section bursts to life in my chest.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Together with his proteges, he performed a dance to the beat of percussions, and the Swiss wrestlers joined in, drawing further applause.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Whereas on tracks like “Dime” and “Flores,” there are distinct orchestral peaks, in which subtle percussions give way to grander, more cathartic releases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025

Jeremiah Green’s buoyant percussions — that frequently lift and propel Modest Mouse songs in unorthodox ways — bounced the sold-out crowd like a tattered basketball on the Showbox’s famously springy floor.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

After the meeting, I just went to a studio and started recording for three weeks, and it’s all these jams, all these percussions and flutes.

From Slate ● Aug. 30, 2021

The percussions of a grain of shot shaken in a bottle are not swifter or more senseless.

From International Short Stories: French by A. Cheneviere

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