clarinet

noun

clar·​i·​net ˌkler-ə-ˈnet 

ˌkla-rə-;

ˈkler-ə-nət, 

ˈkla-rə-

: a single-reed woodwind instrument having a cylindrical tube with a moderately flared bell and a usual range from D below middle C upward for 3½ octaves

clarinetist noun

or clarinettist

ˌkler-ə-ˈne-tist 

ˌkla-rə-

Illustration of clarinet

Examples of clarinet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Musical instruments Musical instruments can be pricey to replace, so leaving you child's wooden clarinet in the back seat during a snowstorm is a bad idea. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Dec. 2025

Growing up alongside his older brother, Rome, Cole played the piano and the clarinet, per a 2021 Instagram post from Bret. —Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025

One of the photos was of them playing music together, with Kimmel on the clarinet and Escobedo on the saxophone. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2025

Françaix uses the wind ensemble to create a lively back-and-forth between the bright timbres of flutes and oboes and the richer tones of clarinets and bassoons. —Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French clarinette, probably ultimately from Medieval Latin clarion-, clario

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clarinet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset
• internet

Kids Definition

clarinet

noun

clar·​i·​net ˌklar-ə-ˈnet 

ˈklar-ə-nət

: a woodwind musical instrument in the shape of a cylindrical tube having a single-reed mouthpiece

clarinetist noun

or clarinettist

ˌklar-ə-ˈnet-əst