pianist

American  

[pee-an-ist, pyan-, pee-uh-nist] / piˈæn ɪst, ˈpyæn-, ˈpi ə nɪst /

noun

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

---

pianist British  

/ ˈpɪənɪst /

noun

1. a person who plays the piano

---

Etymology

Origin of pianist

1830–40; < French pianiste < Italian pianista. See piano ¹, -ist

Explanation

If you play the piano, you are a pianist. The word most often describes a professional piano player, like a pianist in the symphony. A pianist might work playing jazz standards in a restaurant or performing solo shows on stages all over the world. A local pianist might make some extra money by giving piano lessons to kids, tuning pianos, or serving as a substitute music teacher. The French source of the word pianist is pianiste, which comes from the Italian piano e forte, "soft and loud."

Example Sentences

“Barry loves music as much as anyone I’ve ever known,” says Bette Midler, who hired Manilow as her pianist for the name-making gig she played at New York’s Continental Baths in the early 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Rollins was a gifted player and was mentored by pianist Thelonious Monk.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Emmet Cohen, pianist and composer: I think when you listen to Miles’ records you can really appreciate them all the way through and there’s something in there for all sides of humanity.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

His career as a pianist is not paying the bills.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

I sat in the very back one time when Dad took me to a concert by some famous Polish pianist.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper