carillon

noun

car·​il·​lon ˈker-ə-ˌlän 

-lən, 

ˈka-rə-;

ˈker-ē-ˌän, 

-ˌōn, 

ˈka-rē-;

kə-ˈril-yən

1

a

: a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard

b

: an electronic instrument imitating a carillon

2

: a composition for the carillon

Examples of carillon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, Gillon has worked on improving its security and infrastructure, signing new tenants and restoring elements like the carillon bells on Giralda Tower. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026

For nearly a century, the Mayo Clinic carillon has been making music in downtown Rochester, Minnesota. —John Lauritsen, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026

What follows is an electrifying outburst of energy, as Jamal pushes the tempo, pulls it back to cascading cadenzas, tosses in quotes from other jazz and pop tunes, unleashes carillons of thunder. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026

The first gateway completed was the carillon, or bell tower, at the intersection of Reading Road, Liberty Street, 14th Street and Interstate 471. —Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, alteration of Old French quarregnon, modification of Late Latin quaternion-, quaternio set of four — more at quaternion

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for carillon

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon
• etalon

Kids Definition

carillon

noun

car·​il·​lon ˈkar-ə-ˌlän 

-lən

: a set of bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard