theremin

American  

[ther-uh-min] / ˈθɛr ə mɪn /

noun

1. a musical instrument with electronic tone generation, the pitch and tone volume being controlled by the distance between the player's hands and two metal rods serving as antennas.

---

theremin British  

/ ˈθɛrəmɪn /

noun

1. an electronic musical instrument, played by moving the hands through electromagnetic fields created by two metal rods

---

Other Word Forms

• thereminist noun

Etymology

Origin of theremin

First recorded in 1925–30; named after Leo Theremin (1896–1993), Russian inventor

Explanation

A theremin is an electronic musical instrument that makes a strange, eerie sound when you move your hands near it. The theremin is distinctive for being the only musical instrument that a player never touches. A thereminist plays by moving their hands close to, but not touching, the theremin's two oscillating antennas. These hand movements change the instrument's pitch and volume by interfering with the frequency of radio waves. The instrument is named for its inventor, Léon Thérémin, a Russian scientist and KGB spy.

Example Sentences

Matt Groening knows what a real theremin sounds like.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2025

She has several musical saws of different makes, lengths, widths and tapering and also owns a theremin, an electronic musical instrument.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Moog Company, based in Trumansburg N.Y., which manufactured his versions of the theremin, the electronic instrument whose eerie space-age sound was a staple of 1950s science-fiction movie soundtracks.

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2022

A year earlier, Mr. Deutsch had used one of Moog’s kits to build his own theremin.

From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2022

If the drama is bad, if the film says nothing, if the play is hollow, sting me with the theremin, loudly.

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury