singer

¹ American  

[sing-er] / ˈsɪŋ ər /

noun

1. a person who sings, especially a trained or professional vocalist.

2. a poet.

3. a singing bird.

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singer ² American  

[sin-jer] / ˈsɪn dʒər /

noun

1. a person or thing that singes.

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Singer ³ American  

[sing-er] / ˈsɪŋ ər /

noun

1. Isaac Bashevis 1904–91, U.S. novelist and short-story writer (in Yiddish), born in Poland: Nobel Prize 1978.

2. Isaac Merrit 1811–75, U.S. inventor.

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singer ¹ British  

/ ˈsɪŋə /

noun

1. a person who sings, esp one who earns a living by singing

2. a singing bird

3. an obsolete word for poet

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Singer ² British  

/ ˈsɪŋə /

noun

1. Isaac Bashevis. 1904–91, US writer of Yiddish novels and short stories; born in Poland. His works include Satan in Goray (1935), The Family Moscat (1950), the autobiographical In my Father's Court (1966), and The King of the Fields (1989): Nobel prize for literature 1978

2. Isaac Merrit. 1811–75, US inventor, who originated and developed an improved chain-stitch sewing machine (1852)

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Etymology

Origin of singer¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; sing, -er ¹

Origin of singer²

First recorded in 1870–75; singe + -er ¹

Explanation

A singer makes music with their voice. A singer may sing the lyrics, or words, of a song, or may just vocalize sounds like "la, la, la" or "tweet, tweet, tweet" in musical tones. Singing is one of the oldest forms of musical expression. A singer may perform on stage for thousands of adoring fans, or for guests at an intimate wedding reception. Perhaps you are a singer who likes to sing in the shower or croon along with a recording of your favorite artist. There are pop singers, rock singers, and opera singers. Some singers have high-pitched, soprano voices, while others sing in lower-pitched, tenor voices. Many birds, known as songbirds, are singers, and so are some whales!

Example Sentences

With a voice that moved effortlessly from romantic ballads to energetic numbers, she became the go-to singer for composers across genres.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

When the men follow them to their seats to continue the harassment, the singer puts it to a halt with a confrontational, “Stop! . . . Gimme a beat!”

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

The London singer and producer wrote the dramatic, moody score and several songs for the first two series of the popular US teen drama.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The 58-year-old Canadian singer announced last month that she was returning to the stage for 16 concerts after a lengthy break prompted by a rare health condition.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

The line might be performed by any musician or group of musicians: a singer, for example, or a bassoonist, a violin section, or a trumpet and saxophone together.

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

Related Words

• artist
• crooner
• diva
• musician
• soloist
• vocalist
• voice