instrumental

adjective

in·​stru·​men·​tal ˌin(t)-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce instrumental (audio)
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
instrumentally adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During his career leading Warner Chappell Music Nashville, Vaughn was instrumental in developing numerous artists and songwriters including Dan+Shay, Kacey Musgraves, Lady A, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 9 July 2025 Also, the company’s cost management efforts and return on the ongoing marketing campaigns will be instrumental in maintaining its margins and in turn its financial advantage over its competitors. Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 Caplan, Taste of New Haven founder and all-round pizza expert who was instrumental in having Connecticut named the pizza capital of the United States, wants to break the existing Guinness World Records™ title for Largest Pizza Party. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025 Her success as an actress was instrumental in financing the store’s beginning. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for instrumental

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of instrumental was in 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrumental. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

instrumental

adjective
in·​stru·​men·​tal ˌin(t)-strə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce instrumental (audio)
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
instrumentally adverb

Medical Definition

instrumental

adjective
in·​stru·​men·​tal ˌin(t)-strə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce instrumental (audio)
: operant
instrumental learning
instrumental conditioning

More from Merriam-Webster on instrumental

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