in·stru·ment
ˈin(t)-strə-mənt 
1
: a device used to produce music
also
: a singing voice
2
: implement
especially
: one designed for precision work
3
a
: a measuring device for determining the present value of a quantity under observation
b
: an electrical or mechanical device used in navigating an airplane
especially
: such a device used as the sole means of navigating
4
5
: a formal legal document (such as a deed, bond, or agreement)
in·stru·ment
ˈin(t)-strə-ˌment
instrumented; instrumenting; instruments
1
: to address a legal instrument to
2
: to score for musical performance : orchestrate
3
: to equip with instruments especially for measuring and recording data
Examples of instrument in a Sentence
Noun
an instrument designed to measure the Earth's atmosphere
The piano was his favorite musical instrument.
Do you play any instruments?
Recent Examples on the Web
Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel has turned the basic human needs of civilians in Gaza into an instrument of pressure in hostage negotiations with Hamas.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Both enemies prove to be equally dangerous, while Spielberg portrays the men as dutiful but conflicted instruments of national vengeance.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
These transcriptions were no longer piano etudes, per se, but the performances conveyed the essence of practicing, of learning a piece by slowly going over and over passages, getting more and more inside the sound of your instrument.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
In 1948, only 3% of American homes had television sets; by the time of the Stevenson-Eisenhower rematch, 80% were equipped with TV, an instrument that was permanently altering the nation’s entertainment preferences and habits of acquiring information.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
The parameters and instruments are pre-assigned to all possible data values the telescope could pick up.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
As well as taking care of her instrument, Lulu also revealed that her long career has been helped by maintaining a keen interest in meditation for more than four decades.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
At the time the Sgr A* observations were captured, the EHT collaboration was using eight telescopes around the world, linking them together to create a planet-sized, albeit virtual, instrument.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Apr. 2023
Unlike earthquake prediction — which in terms of short-term prediction is currently not feasible and may never be feasible on a short timescale — volcano prediction is feasible and is common if volcanoes are instrumented.
—NBC News, 23 May 2018
Bullerengue is a genre led mainly by elderly women, instrumented exclusively with artisan drums, and preserved through oral tradition.
—Marjua Estevez, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2017
But however well-instrumented, machines can't intuit.
—Bucky McMahon, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2017
The plan is for the NFL, when the technology is ready, to offer mouth guards instrumented with such sensors to players to measure their impact response.
—USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2017
Noun
On board are instruments built primarily by undergraduate science and engineering students.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel has turned the basic human needs of civilians in Gaza into an instrument of pressure in hostage negotiations with Hamas.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Both enemies prove to be equally dangerous, while Spielberg portrays the men as dutiful but conflicted instruments of national vengeance.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
These transcriptions were no longer piano etudes, per se, but the performances conveyed the essence of practicing, of learning a piece by slowly going over and over passages, getting more and more inside the sound of your instrument.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
In 1948, only 3% of American homes had television sets; by the time of the Stevenson-Eisenhower rematch, 80% were equipped with TV, an instrument that was permanently altering the nation’s entertainment preferences and habits of acquiring information.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
The parameters and instruments are pre-assigned to all possible data values the telescope could pick up.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
As well as taking care of her instrument, Lulu also revealed that her long career has been helped by maintaining a keen interest in meditation for more than four decades.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
At the time the Sgr A* observations were captured, the EHT collaboration was using eight telescopes around the world, linking them together to create a planet-sized, albeit virtual, instrument.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Swedish scientists who instrumented grizzlies there concluded that the animals might become hot in their superinsulated space with the returning hours of sunshine.
—Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Apr. 2023
Unlike earthquake prediction — which in terms of short-term prediction is currently not feasible and may never be feasible on a short timescale — volcano prediction is feasible and is common if volcanoes are instrumented.
—NBC News, 23 May 2018
Bullerengue is a genre led mainly by elderly women, instrumented exclusively with artisan drums, and preserved through oral tradition.
—Marjua Estevez, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2017
But however well-instrumented, machines can't intuit.
—Bucky McMahon, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2017
The plan is for the NFL, when the technology is ready, to offer mouth guards instrumented with such sensors to players to measure their impact response.
—USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instrument.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near instrument
Cite this Entry
“Instrument.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrument. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
instrument
noun
in·stru·ment
ˈin(t)-strə-mənt
: any implement, tool, or utensil (as for surgery)
Legal Definition
instrument
noun
in·stru·ment
1
: a means or implement by which something is achieved, performed, or furthered
an instrument of crime
2
: a document (as a deed, will, bond, note, certificate of deposit, insurance policy, warrant, or writ) evidencing rights or duties especially of one party to another under the law
a person is not liable on an instrument unless the person signed the instrument—Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Codean indictment is a form of charging instrument
specifically
: negotiable instrument
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