saxophone

[ sak-suh-fohn ]

/ ˈsæk səˌfoʊn /

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noun

a musical wind instrument consisting of a conical, usually brass tube with keys or valves and a mouthpiece with one reed.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of saxophone

1850–55; Sax (see saxhorn) + -o- + -phone

OTHER WORDS FROM saxophone

sax·o·phon·ic

[sak-suh-fon-ik], /ˌsæk səˈfɒn ɪk/, adjectivesax·o·phon·ist, noun

Words nearby saxophone

Saxon, Saxon blue, Saxonism, saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, saxophone, saxtuba, say, sayable, say a mouthful, Sayan Mountains

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

How to use saxophone in a sentence

There’s the sound of explosions, barking dogs and a storm of violins, saxophone and percussion.
Akram Khan delivers a powerful indictment of war in ‘Xenos’ at the Kennedy Center|Sarah Kaufman|November 19, 2021|Washington Post
Ellis joined the horn section on alto saxophone before switching to the larger, deeper-toned tenor saxophone, his preferred instrument.
Pee Wee Ellis, who helped put the funk in James Brown’s music, dies at 80|Matt Schudel|September 26, 2021|Washington Post
Survivor Hal Singer became a saxophone virtuoso and a world-renowned musician.
A Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre Says Her Family Is Still Trying to Break Its Curse, 100 Years Later|Paulina Cachero|May 29, 2021|Time
Starr was a music teacher and songwriter who played flute, bass, saxophone and an electronic wind synthesizer.
Washington Teachers’ Union president was speeding and driving intoxicated at time of fatal crash, police say|Perry Stein, Dana Hedgpeth|May 28, 2021|Washington Post

Then Monk said to both of them, 'You play saxophone, right?'
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest|Nat Hentoff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was never any one criterion for how every trombone or tenor saxophone or singer should sound.
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest|Nat Hentoff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paul Winter played the saxophone and Melissa Leo, the actress, read texts written by Petit himself.
Philippe Petit’s Moment of Concern Walking the WTC Tightrope|Anthony Haden-Guest|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Charles played saxophone, and Cyril, the youngest, played congas and sang like no tomorrow.
The Cradle of Jazz, Blues and Gospel Endlessly Rocking|Jason Berry|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the best was that they had to call and tell me to come in and redo the butt saxophone.
‘Saturday Night Live’ Star Bobby Moynihan Is the ‘Chozen’ One|Kevin Fallon|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Mr. Hingman had long before this subsided into his chair and was emitting sounds like those from a saxophone.
By Advice of Counsel|Arthur Train
And we're going to get one of those things—a saxophone or whatever you call it—to take our latitude and longitude with!
Pee-Wee Harris Adrift|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
The Policeman took the saxophone, and the German the slide trombone.
The Brownies and Prince Florimel|Palmer Cox
When all poor Ernest seemed to want these days was to play the saxophone.
A Mixture of Genius|Arnold Castle
It was tougher for me than learning to play a saxophone is for a boy of ten.
Stamped Caution|Raymond Zinke Gallun

British Dictionary definitions for saxophone

saxophone

/ (ˈsæksəˌfəʊn) /

noun

a keyed wind instrument of mellow tone colour, used mainly in jazz and dance music. It is made in various sizes, has a conical bore, and a single reedOften shortened to: sax

Derived forms of saxophone

saxophonic (ˌsæksəˈfɒnɪk), adjectivesaxophonist (sækˈsɒfənɪst), noun

Word Origin for saxophone

C19: named after Adolphe Sax (1814–94), Belgian musical-instrument maker, who invented it (1846)

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

Cultural definitions for saxophone

saxophone

A wind instrument classified as a woodwind because it is played with a reed, although it is usually made of metal. Saxophones appear mainly in jazz, dance, and military bands. They are made in several ranges, from soprano to bass.