fortissimo

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

for·​tis·​si·​mo fȯr-ˈti-sə-ˌmō 

: very loud

—used especially as a direction in music

fortissimo

2 of 2

noun

plural fortissimos or fortissimi fȯr-ˈti-sə-ˌmē 

: a very loud passage, sound, or tone

Examples of fortissimo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s a passage in the final movement when the full orchestra, reinforced by trumpets, trombones, tuba, and a thunder roll of timpani, clamber up to a teeth-rattling fortissimo. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Legato is benefiting from the vibe fortissimo, while targeting a very specific market and user needs. — Gil Press, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

The section started with several bars of cimbalom, in prominent fortissimo. — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

All that urgent energy forcing all that sound through that throat for all those years—fortissimo is his working decibel range—with laryngitis a frequent companion. — Scott Asen, airmail.news, 30 Nov. 2024

Well after other composers were writing quadruple fortes — ffff — Brahms never ventures here beyond a classical fortissimo (ff). — Dallas News, 8 Oct. 2022

What there were, however, were people clapping between movements of the symphony, and at one point in the first movement at a sudden fortissimo. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Italian, superlative of forte

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1724, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fortissimo

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• manifesto
• minangkabau
• oregano
• ostinato
• pistachio
• politico
• portfolio
• presidio

Kids Definition

fortissimo

adverb or adjective

for·​tis·​si·​mo

fȯr-ˈtis-ə-ˌmō

: very loud

—used as a direction in music