troubadour

American  

[troo-buh-dawr, -dohr, -door] / ˈtru bəˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr, -ˌdʊər /

noun

1. one of a class of medieval lyric poets who flourished principally in southern France from the 11th to 13th centuries, and wrote songs and poems of a complex metrical form in langue d'oc, chiefly on themes of courtly love.

2. any wandering singer or minstrel.

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troubadour British  

/ ˈtruːbəˌdʊə /

noun

1. any of a class of lyric poets who flourished principally in Provence and N Italy from the 11th to the 13th centuries, writing chiefly on courtly love in complex metric form

2. a singer

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Etymology

Origin of troubadour

First recorded in 1720–30; from French, from Provençal trobador, equivalent to trob(ar) “to find, compose” ( trover ) + -ador (from Latin -ātor -ator

Example Sentences

Over the past year, the shaggy-haired guitarist and singer has emerged as a modern-day protest troubadour, collaborating with Baez, selling out concert halls, and soaring to rarified fame on social media.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

In October, Texas troubadour Charley Crockett, who has derided the trap-inflected “bro country” coming out of Nashville, played a solo set at Lucinda’s before moving uptown for a three-night residency at Café Carlyle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

The brash rock musician who evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2023

Jester, troubadour, agent provocateur, Serge Gainsbourg rhymed his way through life in a fog of Gitanes smoke, making music of every genre.

From New York Times • Sep. 25, 2023

At least when it's asked by a troubadour.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Related Words

• crooner
• minstrel
• songwriter