melodica

noun

me·​lod·​i·​ca mə-ˈlä-di-kə 

plural melodicas

: a wind instrument that consists of a small keyboard containing free reeds and that is played by pressing the keys while blowing into an attached mouthpiece

… tooting the melodica, a reedy wind instrument with a piano keyboard and a distinctive though seldom-heard sound.

—Larry Katz

Melodicas are typically made of plastic and are consequently low cost. … I have utilized melodicas in my music theory classrooms for over five years in multiple institutions …

—Chelsey L. Hamm

Examples of melodica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Exotic instruments occasionally pop up—melodica, vibraslap, a vicious bass clarinet breakdown from producer Jim Marlowe—but only as accents, not as orchestration. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 June 2026

Everything’s wrapped together by a lovely melodica solo, just in case the song wasn’t precious enough. — Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026

Alexander pulled out a baby-blue melodica to lay down a filthy ska rhythm for his band. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

melodic or melody + -ica, probably after harmonica, probably originally as German Melodica, the trade name of the instrument used by its German manufacturer, Matthias Hohner AG

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above