quintet

Or quin·tette

[kwin-tet]

noun

1. any set or group of five persons or things.

2. an organized group of five singers or players.

3. a musical composition scored for five voices or instruments.

quintet

/ kwɪnˈtɛt /

noun

1. a group of five singers or instrumentalists or a piece of music composed for such a group

2. any group of five

quintet

1. A group of five musicians; also, a piece of music for five instruments or voices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintet¹

1805–15; < French quintette < Italian quintetto, diminutive of quinto fifth < Latin quīntus

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintet¹

C19: from Italian quintetto, from quinto fifth

Example Sentences

It didn’t quite turn out that Brahmsians would have the rare chance of a full survey of the quintets and sextets downtown over six days.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Beyond the performance, the assembly of this England quintet is made more remarkable by the obstacles each man has had to overcome to be on the field.

Read more on BBC

The quintet could all return soon following varying spells on the sidelines but it remains to be seen if any of them are passed fit for the north London derby.

Read more on BBC

A federal grand jury in New York indicted the quintet on Tuesday, each on a single felony count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, according to court documents filed in the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The resulting quintet that played together for the first time in early 1977 may have had a cutting-edge sound, but Orr and Ocasek, at least, were musical veterans.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assemblage 
• band 
• cast 
• choir 
• chorus 
• orchestra 
• quartet 
• sextet 
• trio 
• troupe