percussionist

American

[per-kuhsh-uh-nist] / pərˈkʌʃ ə nɪst /

noun

a musician who plays percussion instruments.

percussionist British

/ pəˈkʌʃənɪst /

noun

music a person who plays any of several percussion instruments, esp in an orchestra

"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

Etymology

Origin of percussionist

First recorded in 1810–20; percussion + -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.

Bez, who has served as dancer and percussionist in both Happy Mondays and Black Grape, said he was looking forward to being back on the road in 2026.

From BBC

Prior to them, jazz percussionist Chuck Redd called off a Christmas Eve gig he had hosted annually since 2006 at the centre over the name change.

From BBC

It was the only work by one of the world’s greatest percussionists for a percussion ensemble.

From Los Angeles Times

I started as a percussionist when I was very young.

From Los Angeles Times

Freese was a last-minute addition to the touring band, after the group unexpectedly swapped percussionists with Foo Fighters days before Peel It Back kicked off.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023