pianist

[ pee-an-ist, pyan-, pee-uh-nist ]

/ piˈæn ɪst, ˈpyæn-, ˈpi ə nɪst /

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noun

a person who plays the piano, especially one who performs expertly or professionally.

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Origin of pianist

1830–40; <French pianiste<Italian pianista.See piano¹, -ist

Words nearby pianist

pia mater, pian, pianette, pianism, pianissimo, pianist, pianistic, pianistics, piano, piano accordion, piano bar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pianist in a sentence

She’s a pianist, and she’s still giving public performances.
The ‘Mother of Lesbian History’ Looks Back — and Forward|Randy Dotinga|July 17, 2021|Voice of San Diego
During the summers, she was a pianist in resort hotels and began to joke with audience members as she played.
Rusty Warren, whose racy jokes about sex made her a ’60s comedy star, dies at 91|Matt Schudel|May 28, 2021|Washington Post
Between the ages of 4 and 21, I was training to be a concert pianist.
The New Historian of the Smash That Made the Himalayas|Robin George Andrews|April 14, 2021|Quanta Magazine
Because those dreams and those ideas to enter a field when I’m not the best pianist, I’m not the best singer, but I got some pretty cool ideas.
Where There’s a Will, There’s will.i.am|Joshua Eferighe|March 31, 2021|Ozy

A pianist, Shulman studied music at the Kyiv Conservatory and eventually went to study conducting at what was then called the Leningrad Conservatory of Music.
Russian orchestra conductor known for his musical passion dies of coronavirus|Dana Hedgpeth|March 25, 2021|Washington Post
He told me his name was Malek Jandali and that he was a pianist from Syria.
How Aasif Mandvi Became Jon Stewart’s Favorite Jihadi|Dean Obeidallah|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who became an accomplished concert pianist before she tuned her ear to the more dissonant chords of international relations.
My Commencement Speech to Rutgers’ Geniuses: Go Forth and Fail|P. J. O’Rourke|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Feather had recorded as a pianist, and although he would never put Oscar Peterson out of business, he knew his sharps and flats.
Music Criticism Has Degenerated Into Lifestyle Reporting|Ted Gioia|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Back when Roman Polanski won for The Pianist, did you feel the same way about not factoring in sexual matters?
An Oscar Voter Spills Secrets on Woodygate, Wolfgate, and Awards Scandals|Michael Musto|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jazz pianist Jon Batiste began his set in New York City this past week with an extended version of “The Entertainer.”
Jon Batiste, a Thrilling Jazz Pianist Whose First Goal Is to Entertain|Howard Wolfson|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A general air of surprise and genuine satisfaction fell upon every one as they saw the pianist enter.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The young woman was unable to answer; she pressed the hand of the pianist convulsively.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
If you have dancing, and have not engaged a band, it is best to hire a pianist for the evening to play dancing music.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Besides all this, Peter had regular music lessons with the pianist Philipov.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Besides being a most gifted pianist, he had great talent as a conductor, and organiser of many schemes.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky

British Dictionary definitions for pianist

pianist

/ (ˈpɪənɪst) /

noun

a person who plays the piano

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