accordion

1 of 2

noun

ac·​cor·​di·​on ə-ˈkȯr-dē-ən 

: a portable keyboard wind instrument in which the wind is forced past free reeds by means of a hand-operated bellows

accordionist

ə-ˈkȯr-dē-ə-nist 

noun

Illustration of accordion

accordion

2 of 2

adjective

: folding or creased or hinged to fold like an accordion

an accordion pleat

an accordion door

Examples of accordion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The accordion chart shows annual domestic box office returns grouped by totals for the top 10 films and the remainder of movies. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026

An accordion that’s more than a joke! —Jonathan Margolis, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026

Saturday’s all-day schedule features sets by zydeco accordion maestro Ruben Moreno, Cajun standard bearers the Riley Family Band with David Greely and Sam Broussard, and soulful accordionist/vocalist Geno Delafose, scion of a zydeco dynasty. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026

The two bench tops also fold out of the way, and the bases fold in via accordion-style panels, allowing the front-end of the trailer to stow cargo while driving. —New Atlas, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from German Accordion (now Akkordeon), from Accord (now Akkord) "chord" (borrowed from French accord "chord, harmony, accord entry 2") + -ion (as in Melodion, an earlier keyboard instrument, from Melodie melody + -on, probably the Greek neuter noun ending)

Adjective

derivative of accordion entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accordion

• piano accordion

Rhymes for accordion

• edwardian
• gordian

Kids Definition

accordion

1 of 2 noun

ac·​cor·​di·​on ə-ˈkȯrd-ē-ən 

: a musical instrument that has a keyboard and a bellows and that produces tones when air is forced past metal reeds

accordionist

-ē-ə-nəst 

noun

accordion

2 of 2 adjective

: creased to fold like an accordion

accordion doors