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:
She appeared as a featured vocalist on a handful of dance tracks before plunging into a solo career.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Jordan made her solo debut with her 1988 album, “Tell Somebody,” which led to her winning the Juno Award — the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy — for most promising female vocalist the following year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
Fellow lead vocalist Scott wrote: "The strongest duo right there! Love y'all so much! You've got this!"
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Moments after the final rapid-fire rhythm of Anthrax’s opening number “Caught in a Mosh” fades from the open air of the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., shaggy-headed vocalist Joey Belladonna addresses the audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
The winning vocalist and instrumentalist would be invited to appear as soloists with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra during its popular summer season at the stadium.
From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman
Though she’s no conventional jazz singer, it’s no surprise she felt compelled to sing ballads with orchestration, a time-honored formula for so many great jazz vocalists, including her earliest musical obsession, Sarah Vaughan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Perry’s tangled love for her mother finds full expression in the film’s final act, in which she assembles musicians and backing vocalists to flesh out “What Lies With You,” written after her mother’s death.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 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
It says KPop Forever! will "take audiences on a journey that they will never forget with four epic live vocalists, accompanied by four world class dancers amidst a background of eye-popping lighting and effects".
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
To put it in the right key for your vocalists.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
