vocalist
Americannoun
-
vocalists
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of vocalist
Explanation
Another word for a singer is a vocalist. A large band might include a dozen musicians, a lead vocalist, and a couple of backup vocalists to harmonize. In jazz, it's particularly common to refer to singers as vocalists — it's a way to emphasize that they are musicians, just like the saxophonist and drummer, only a vocalist's instrument is her voice. A guest vocalist might appear on your favorite band's new album, or a band might hire backing vocalists when they perform live. In the early 17th century, this word meant "speaker." It wasn't until the 19th century that the meaning changed to "singer."
Vocabulary lists containing vocalist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
That she was a vocalist with great lung power had never been missed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Peston is no stranger to music himself, as lead vocalist of a rock and punk cover band, Centrist Dad.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
The American model is also a musician, known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter of the punk rock band Nasty Cherry, which was formed by Charli XCX.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
“Play it back to back and actually start understanding the sound more and realize there’s new sounds being created,” said lead vocalist Geovanni Flores.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
A good example of slurring occurs when a vocalist sings more than one note on the same syllable of text.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
At the city's New Empire Theatre, he orchestrated several "big-band concerts", he wrote, flying in Bombay-based maestros like Ken Mac and Sonny Lobo, and vocalists like Jean Statham and Pamela McCarthy.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026
One of his first successes was writing "Stupid Cupid" for one of the era's most popular US female vocalists, Connie Francis.
From Barron's ● Feb. 28, 2026
The real singing was done by paid session vocalists John Davis, Brad Howell and Charles Shaw while Rob and Fab captivated with their charisma, athletic dance moves and eye for style.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026
This has been the place where we have been allowed to shine as vocalists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2026
Following the tradition established by Roland Hayes and other African American concert vocalists, she concluded each of her programs with a group of spirituals that often moved her audiences to tears.
From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
