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 3¹/₂ 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

From Jason Kelce's impressive sax skills to Tina Fey's flute-playing to Steven Spielberg's love for the clarinet, these stars have proven to be instrumentally inclined. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025

The Sinaloa band sounds smooth without losing its key elements powered by clarinets, tuba, timbales and trombone. —Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025

Now Daphne, unhappily affianced, has run off with one Hop Wingdale, a clarinet player for a band called the Klezmopolitans, and her mother and her would-be future husband have engaged Unamalgamated Ops to bring her home. —Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

Pascoal performed masterfully on keyboards, saxophones, bass clarinet, accordion and an array of other instruments. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 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