soprano

1 of 2

adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō  -ˈprä- 

: relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano

2 of 2

noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati

also : a person having this voice

2

: the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus

3

: a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

Examples of soprano in a Sentence

Noun

She sings in a high soprano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Heever’s fresh, clear soprano soared up to the top high B like an eagle on thermals. —Air Mail, 26 Apr. 2025

Baritone Joshua Hopkins plays the skirt-chasing Count Almaviva, with soprano Federica Lombardi as the compassionate Countess and mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce as the mischievous page Cherubino. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 23 Apr. 2025

The performance features Katherine Polit (soprano), Sarah-Nicole Ruddy-Carter (mezzo soprano), Aaron Humble (tenor), and Michael Sokol (baritone), and includes selections from operas by Delibes, Saint-Saens, Donizetti, Verdi, Offenbach, and Wagner. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025

Having started her career as a soprano, Hannigan turned her hand to conducting at age 40 at the Châtelet in Paris. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, adjective & noun, from sopra above, from Latin supra — more at supra-

First Known Use

Adjective

1730, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing soprano

• mezzo-soprano

Rhymes for soprano

• chicano
• hispano
• serrano
• solano
• americano
• castellano
• cebuano
• mexicano
• llano
• mano

Kids Definition

soprano

1 of 2 adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpran-ō  -ˈprän- 

1

: relating to the soprano voice or part

2

: having a high range

soprano sax

soprano

2 of 2 noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest voice part in harmony for four parts with men's and women's voices compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, tenor sense 2a

2

: the highest singing voice of women or boys

also : a person with this voice

Etymology

Adjective

from Italian soprano "relating to a soprano or soprano part," from sopra "above," from Latin supra "above"