singer
1 Americannoun
noun
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Isaac Bashevis 1904–91, U.S. novelist and short-story writer (in Yiddish), born in Poland: Nobel Prize 1978.
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Isaac Merrit 1811–75, U.S. inventor.
noun
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a person who sings, esp one who earns a living by singing
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a singing bird
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an obsolete word for poet
noun
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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
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Isaac Merrit. 1811–75, US inventor, who originated and developed an improved chain-stitch sewing machine (1852)
Etymology
Origin of singer1
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at sing, -er 1
Origin of singer2
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!
Vocabulary lists containing singer
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.
Two years prior, Brock’s old friend Sam Jayne, lead singer of regional peers Lync and Love as Laughter, was found dead in his car.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
"I can't wait to share the songs, the love and make some beautiful memories together," added the I'm Every Woman singer.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
And, of course, there was also the passing of Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, who had been Chris Cornell’s roommate and dear friend.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
The 52-year-old “Ironic” singer initially listed her six-bedroom Lafayette, Calif., home for sale on May 12, with an ask of $7.5 million.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
Since there is no restriction tying the singer to a “fixed” notation, children are free to just imitate or to explore, improvise and play with the sound.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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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.