instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal
ˌin(t)-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
1
a
: serving as a crucial means, agent, or tool
was instrumental in organizing the strike
b
: of, relating to, or done with an instrument or tool
2
: relating to, composed for, or performed on a musical instrument
3
: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case or form expressing means or agency
4
: of or relating to instrumentalism
5
: operant sense 3
instrumental learning
instrumental conditioning
instrumental
noun
Did you know?
An instrument is a tool, something used to construct. It's often a tool for making music. A musical saw happens to be a carpenter's tool that can be played with a violin bow (though you probably wouldn't want to play a wrench or a pair of pliers). The musical meanings of instrumental, as in "It starts with an instrumental piece" or "a jazz instrumental", are common. But the meanings "helpful", "useful", and "essential", as in "He was instrumental in getting my book published", are just as common.
Examples of instrumental in a Sentence
They played instrumental music at the wedding.
an instrumental version of a song
Recent Examples on the Web
As chairman of the University of Central Florida’s Board of Trustees, Martins was instrumental in helping guide UCF into the Big 12 — a move that elevated the university’s national profile and changed the trajectory of UCF athletics and the university as a whole.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sean — Dell was instrumental in bringing computers to a wider audience by pioneering the direct-to-consumer model in the 1980s and 90s, offering custom built PCs.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Nieto, co-founder and former CEO of Life Fitness, helped pioneer the modern commercial fitness equipment industry and was instrumental in bringing exercise technology into health clubs around the world.
—Rancho Santa Fe Review, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The moving instrumental version of the lead single from the enigmatic Ocean’s 2012 debut solo album, Channel Orange, was transformed in Flea’s hands into what sounded like a lost relic from the 1940s jazz age, performed with a style and grace that breathed new life into the track.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
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Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sean — Dell was instrumental in bringing computers to a wider audience by pioneering the direct-to-consumer model in the 1980s and 90s, offering custom built PCs.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Nieto, co-founder and former CEO of Life Fitness, helped pioneer the modern commercial fitness equipment industry and was instrumental in bringing exercise technology into health clubs around the world.
—Rancho Santa Fe Review, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The moving instrumental version of the lead single from the enigmatic Ocean’s 2012 debut solo album, Channel Orange, was transformed in Flea’s hands into what sounded like a lost relic from the 1940s jazz age, performed with a style and grace that breathed new life into the track.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrumental. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal
ˌin(t)-strə-ˈment-ᵊl
1
a
: acting as an instrument or means
was instrumental in organizing the club
b
: of, relating to, or done with an instrument
instrumental error
2
: relating to, composed for, or performed on a musical instrument
an unusual instrumental arrangement
Medical Definition
instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal
ˌin(t)-strə-ˈment-ᵊl
: operant
instrumental learning
instrumental conditioning
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