Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

alto saxophone

noun
variants: or alto sax

Definition of alto saxophone 

: the second highest member of the saxophone family pitched in F or E-flat

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Other Words from alto saxophone

alto saxophonist noun

First Known Use of alto saxophone

1853, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about alto saxophone

Share alto saxophone

Statistics for alto saxophone

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for alto saxophone

The first known use of alto saxophone was in 1853

See more words from the same year

Comments on alto saxophone

What made you want to look up alto saxophone? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

tchotchke

a knickknack or trinket

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games