clarinet

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

clarinetist

2 of 2

noun (2)

clar·​i·​net·​ist

variants or clarinettist

ˌkler-ə-ˈne-tist 

ˌkla-rə-

plural -s

: a performer on the clarinet

Examples of clarinet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Greenspan played the clarinet and saxophone and briefly attended the Juilliard School. — Marty Steinberg, CNBC, 22 June 2026

An aspiring musician, Greenspan attended Juilliard for a year and played saxophone and clarinet before dropping out and enrolling at New York University. — Patricio Chile, ABC News, 22 June 2026

Greenspan learned to play the clarinet as a child and also played flute, saxophone and piano. — Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Exotic instruments occasionally pop up—melodica, vibraslap, a vicious bass clarinet breakdown from producer Jim Marlowe—but only as accents, not as orchestration. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

German klarinettist, from klarinette clarinet (from French clarinette) + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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