mandolin

noun

man·​do·​lin ˌman-də-ˈlin 

ˈman-də-lən

variants or less commonly mandoline

ˌman-də-ˈlēn 

ˈman-də-lən

1

: a musical instrument of the lute family that has a usually pear-shaped body and fretted neck and four to six pairs of strings

2

usually mandoline [French, from Italian mandolino mandolin] : a kitchen utensil with a blade for slicing and shredding

mandolinist

ˌman-də-ˈli-nist 

noun

Illustration of mandolin

• mandolin 1

Examples of mandolin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a sweet voice driven by acoustic guitars, analog textures and mandolin, Silva’s music is like an embrace for the soul, an invitation to celebrate our imperfections and connect with our inner essence. —Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025

Her grandfather, Jim Coleman, and uncle, Jacob, accompany her on guitar and mandolin. —Frank Langfitt, NPR, 16 Aug. 2025

The seventeen-year-old mandolin-and-violin tune that millennials played with anticipatory nostalgia during college is now accompanying social-media video clips about the DC Universe, its cringe wholly recuperated as commodity. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025

After spending four years performing with mandolin player Don Julin, Strings went solo in 2017 and turned heads from the start, with Rolling Stone pegging him as one of its top 10 new country artists to know that year. —Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mandolin

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• porphyrin
• underpin
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin

Kids Definition

mandolin

noun

man·​do·​lin ˌman-də-ˈlin 

ˈman-dᵊl-ən

variants also mandoline

ˌman-də-ˈlēn 

ˈman-dᵊl-ən

: a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and four to six pairs of strings played by plucking