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; -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

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The ebullient thrum of staccato snares, thumping sousaphones, and tramping shoes all acting in unison filled the gray morning air in the parking lot outside Angel Stadium recently.

From Los Angeles Times

When the band made a switch to another formation the sousaphones spelled out “Smile.”

From Seattle Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

The sound system had clearly been set up in haste: Brent “Bass Heavy Slim” Gossett’s sousaphone, massive as it was, was usually lost in the mix, and Bell’s vocals were often muddy.

From Washington Post