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

Adelyn Strei also joined them to add flute and clarinet. —Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026

Musical instruments Musical instruments can be pricey to replace, so leaving your kid's wooden clarinet in the back seat during a snowstorm is a bad idea. —Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2026

Musical instruments Musical instruments can be pricey to replace, so leaving your kid's wooden clarinet in the back seat during a snowstorm is a bad idea. —Elissa Robinson, Freep.com, 22 Jan. 2026

While Coach was so focused on football that he might as well have been made out of pigskin, Claudia leaned toward the performing arts, having played the clarinet in her high school band. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 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
• 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