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• singer
  singer

  noun

  a person who sings, especially a trained or professional vocalist.
• Singer
  Singer

  noun

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

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; see origin at 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

I Will Survive singer Gloria Gaynor wrote: "Wishing you a swift recovery, Bonnie!"

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Comedian Trevor Noah is slated to emcee, and singer Chappell Roan is expected to perform for deep-pocketed advertisers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

On May 23, Barbra Streisand, 84, will receive an honorary Palme d’Or — the latest accolade for the singer, actor, director and producer, who first received major awards attention six decades ago.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The movie will tell the "incredible story of the magnificent, incomparable" dancer and singer, its producers said at the Cannes Film Festival, which starts Tuesday.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Vocally, however, children find it quite difficult to sustain their own vocal part against that of another singer or singers before the age of 8.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

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