rhythm section

American

noun

Music.

band instruments, as drums or bass, that supply rhythm rather than harmony or melody.
the group of players in a band who play such instruments.

rhythm section British

noun

those instruments in a band or group (usually piano, double bass, and drums) whose prime function is to supply the rhythm

"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 rhythm section

First recorded in 1925–30

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.

The rhythm section remained taut and rigid—live musicians mimicking the curt slap of hip-hop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

Slipshod electric guitars spin like a lazy kite around strident acoustic guitars and a buoyant rhythm section.

From Salon • May 26, 2025

When Koleoso first visited Tomorrow's Warriors with his brother TJ, they'd already formed a tight rhythm section in their church band.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2025

I play keyboards and mostly the percussion or the rhythm section and saxophone.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2024

Vocalists, wind instruments, and bowed strings are usually not part of the rhythm section.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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