synthesizer

American  

[sin-thuh-sahy-zer] / ˈsɪn θəˌsaɪ zər /

noun

• synthesizers
  plural

1. a person or thing that synthesizes.

2. any of various electronic, sometimes portable consoles or modules, usually computerized, for creating, modifying, and combining tones or reproducing the sounds of musical instruments by controlling voltage patterns, operated by means of keyboards, joysticks, sliders, or knobs.

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synthesizer British  

/ ˈsɪnθɪˌsaɪzə /

noun

1. an electrophonic instrument, usually operated by means of a keyboard and pedals, in which sounds are produced by voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers, with an envelope generator module that controls attack, decay, sustain, and release

2. a person or thing that synthesizes

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• synthesizers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of synthesizer

First recorded in 1865–70; 1905–10 synthesizer for def. 2; synthesize + -er ¹

Explanation

A synthesizer is a musical instrument that has a keyboard like a piano but can sound like just about any instrument in the world. The usually small, modest keyboard of a synthesizer can be deceiving — it's not just an electronic piano. Synthesizers can mimic the sound of a saxophone, drums, hand claps, or even an orchestra's entire string section. Some synthesizers even let you play a recorded sound and then manipulate it so it sounds just the way you want it to. Synthesizer comes from synthesize, "combine two or more things," and its Greek root synthesis, "a putting together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

synthesizer synthesizers

Born in Frankston, Texas in 1949, Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969 and followed the three-man band's progression from heavy blues to its experimental synthesizer sound of the 1980s.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Fabi and I would take turns, I’d play a synthesizer melody and she would strum guitar chords, searching for rhythmic ideas; sometimes we’d just shout at each other.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Some artists have embraced AI as a tool, similar to using a synthesizer to generate beats or instrumentation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

It opens with rumbling drums, a wandering upright bass, and an atmospheric synthesizer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026

Nico opens up a bass synthesizer and uses the computer keys to lay down a bass line.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Yet Daniel Pemberton’s opening theme music is a rousing crescendo of stadium rock synthesizers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

But EsDeeKid’s visceral tracks, full of slicing synthesizers and blown-out bass, have been embraced in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026

It combines drum machines, synthesizers, strings and a reversed sample from a 1960 film soundtrack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026

He eventually sold his analog kit and synthesizers when he switched to Ableton.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

I didn’t recognize the song, but I recognized David Gilmour’s voice, and the ebb and flow of Pink Floyd’s synthesizers.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken