instrumentation

noun

in·​stru·​men·​ta·​tion ˌin(t)-strə-mən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌmen-

1

: the arrangement or composition of music for instruments especially for a band or orchestra

2

: the use or application of instruments (as for observation, measurement, or control)

3

: instruments for a particular purpose

also : a selection or arrangement of instruments

Examples of instrumentation in a Sentence

There was a problem with the airplane's instrumentation.

Recent Examples on the Web

First, a constellation of highly diverse volcanoes will need to be slathered in geophysical instrumentation and consistently monitored over multiple eruption cycles — meaning many decades. —Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026

Otherwise, McCartney returns to the one-man-band approach of his 1970 debut McCartney, handling the bulk of the instrumentation himself. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 May 2026

L3Harris is being tasked with upgrading the flight-test instrumentation—essentially a high-tech nervous system for an unarmed missile. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026

What that actually means is that Music Flamingo focuses on music analysis, not generation, processing a song’s structure, instrumentation, and lyrics as well as historical and cultural context. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for instrumentation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

instrumentation

noun

in·​stru·​men·​ta·​tion ˌin(t)-strə-mən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌmen-

1

: the arrangement or composition of music for instruments

2

: instruments for a particular purpose

the instrumentation of an aircraft

Medical Definition

instrumentation

noun

in·​stru·​men·​ta·​tion ˌin(t)-strə-mən-ˈtā-shən, -ˌmen- 

: a use of or operation with instruments

especially : the use of one or more instruments in treating a patient (as in the passing of a cystoscope)