sousaphone

American  

[soo-zuh-fohn, -suh-] / ˈsu zəˌfoʊn, -sə- /

noun

1. a form of bass tuba, similar to the helicon, used in brass bands.

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sousaphone British  

/ ˈsuːzəˌfəʊn /

noun

1. music a large tuba that encircles the player's body and has a bell facing forwards

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sousaphone Cultural  

1. A kind of tuba that wraps around the player's body so that it can be carried easily while marching.

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Discover More

The sousaphone is named after the bandmaster John Philip Sousa, who suggested building the instrument in this shape.

Other Word Forms

• sousaphonist noun

Etymology

Origin of sousaphone

1920–25; named after J. P. Sousa; see -phone

Example Sentences

The tuba usually used in marching bands, the sousaphone, is one of the few instruments a player wears.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

There’s the sousaphone player from Ohio State who dots the ‘i’ in the marching band’s famed pregame routine.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2022

Eric Summers joined the band as a sousaphone player in 1982 and became the ensemble’s second Black director after George White died in 1998.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022

The two were trying to find the spot where the sousaphone would throw off the most shadow.

From New York Times • May 27, 2022

Universal's fundamental method for the tuba and sousaphone.

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1970 July - December by Library of Congress. Copyright Office