saxophone
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of saxophone
Explanation
A saxophone is a brass instrument that you play by blowing into a mouthpiece and pressing keys to form musical notes. John Coltrane and Charlie Parker (and Lisa Simpson :) were famous saxophone players. Saxophones are similar to instruments like clarinets, because both use a reed mouthpiece and are considered woodwinds. The saxophone, however, also qualifies as a brass instrument, like the trumpet and the tuba, since it's made out of brass and makes sound through vibrations inside the instrument's body. The word saxophone comes from Antoine Joseph Sax, the Belgian inventor of the saxophone. Sax's father, also named Sax, invented the less successful saxhorn.
Vocabulary lists containing saxophone
Common Senses: Phon ("Sound")
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Some Obscure Eponyms
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Musical Instruments - Introductory
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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.
It’s the first time I’ve ever recorded my saxophone in any of my projects!
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
He was able to play on a facility saxophone.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Legendary Jazz musician Sonny Rollins, who was known as the "saxophone colossus", has died aged 95.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Among the missing are Angus the bassist, Phyllis the mail-delivering puppet, Holstein, who was holding an intricate saxophone prop, and Dumont, who had a television stand.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
An elderly, dark-skinned man is playing the saxophone on the street corner.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
