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

Another quiet but essential presence is Orin Jacobs, whose live clarinet playing drifts in and out of the production. —Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Jimmy Kimmel scored a new gig as the bass clarinet player in a band alongside Conan O’Brien and Jon Stewart‘s band the Very White Stripes at the 2026 Netflix Is a Joke Fest. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026

Jon Stewart served as host for the night, which got off to a fast start as Kevin Nealon drew a portrait of a woman from the crowd and Jimmy Kimmel (on the bass clarinet), Conan O’Brien (on the guitar) and Stewart (on the drums) jammed out on stage with Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Lutes. —Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026

That includes here the fabulous jazz pianist and conductor Adrian Galante, a breakout young Australian equally as adept on the clarinet and an ebullient specialist in this genre of music. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

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
• bassinet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

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