soprano

American  

[suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh] / səˈpræn oʊ, -ˈprɑ noʊ /

noun

• sopranos
  plural

1. the uppermost part or voice.

2. the highest singing voice in women and boys.

3. a part for such a voice.

4. a singer with such a voice.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a soprano; having the compass of a soprano.

soprano British  

/ səˈprɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult female voice, having a range approximately from middle C to the A a thirteenth above it

2. the voice of a young boy before puberty

3. a singer with such a voice

4. the highest part of a piece of harmony

5. 1. the highest or second highest instrument in a family of instruments

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soprano saxophone

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soprano Cultural  

1. The highest range of the female singing voice. (Compare alto and mezzo soprano.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sopranos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of soprano

1720–30; < Italian: literally, what is above, high, equivalent to sopra (< Latin suprā above) + -ano adj. suffix

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Explanation

The opera performer with the highest voice is a soprano. A soprano is usually a woman, and she can hit the high notes. A woman who sings at the highest register is one kind of soprano, and her singing voice itself can also be called a soprano. Sometimes high-voiced male singers are described this way too, although it's more common to call them countertenors, or to describe their singing voices as falsetto. Soprano is an Italian word that means "the treble in music," or "high," from sopra, or "above."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

soprano sopranos

Several species of bat were identified on the proposed site, including the common and soprano pipistrelle, as well as the myotis bat.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Mayli Villalobos, a 34-year-old soprano and nurse, arrives at the practice after a 12-hour hospital shift.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Rather, he sounded like what he was—a damaged, thwarted middle-aged boy soprano, one of the saddest things in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Performing a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” at the Roosevelt Hotel, her rangy, raspy soprano stops our hearts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

We sit through an overly sentimental video about "huddled masses" and listen to a bulky soprano belt out the words to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Dame Felicity Lott, one of Britain's best-loved sopranos, has died at the age of 79.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

It is suitable for young operaphiles-in-training and budding sopranos and directors alike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

In their study, the scientists showed that the high-frequency sounds of operatic sopranos are produced with the same principle than speech and most other forms of singing.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2024

“Somebody said she’s the new Nina Stemme. I disagree. She’s the new Nilsson,” he said in a comparison with Birgit Nilsson, regarded as one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century.

From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2024

It’s tough, because while doing all of the above, a coloratura must also be lighter and faster than all the other sopranos.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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