vocoder

American

[voh-koh-der] / ˈvoʊˌkoʊ dər /

noun

an electronic device that synthesizes speech.

vocoder British

/ ˈvəʊˌkəʊdə /

noun

music a type of synthesizer that uses the human voice as an oscillator

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of vocoder

First recorded in 1935–40

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.

As guitarists plucked the tune of “Sabor a Mí,” a classic Mexican bolero, he began to sing, his voice transformed through a vocoder to eerie and achingly modern effect.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2023

By the time Walsh trotted out the vocoder for Henley’s “Those Shoes,” the crowd was as frenzied as you could have hoped, given the lateness of the hour and the average age of attendee.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2021

In the first Royal Plum session for that album, Musgraves played Tashian the Bee Gees; he pulled out a vocoder.

From New York Times • Aug. 26, 2021

The new 10-song set features cinematic synthesizers, digital drums, sampling, a vocoder and other contemporary studio finery.

From Washington Times • Jun. 17, 2020

Mike switched off the vocoder, flipped his intercom to the temporary galley in the morgue, and ordered two breakfasts readied.

From Where I Wasn't Going by Richmond, Walt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023