Illustration of mandolin
- mandolin 1
mandolin
noun
man·do·lin
ˌman-də-ˈlin 
ˈman-də-lən
variants
or less commonly mandoline
ˌman-də-ˈlēn
ˈman-də-lən
1
: a musical instrument of the lute family that has a usually pear-shaped body and fretted neck and four to six pairs of strings
2
usually mandoline
[French, from Italian mandolino mandolin]
: a kitchen utensil with a blade for slicing and shredding
Examples of mandolin in a Sentence
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For Best Traditional, expect fiddles, pedal steel, banjo, and mandolin on many of the albums — and both newcomers and country legends alike nominated for awards.
—
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
The band includes long-time musicians Michael Williams (guitar and vocals), Peter Sharpe (mandolin and vocals), Lenny Bole (banjo and dobro), and Given Harrison (bass and vocals).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
In the early 1880s, mandolins were all the rage, and a wave of mandolin clubs emerged.
—Sarah Biegelsen, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
With a sweet voice driven by acoustic guitars, analog textures and mandolin, Silva’s music is like an embrace for the soul, an invitation to celebrate our imperfections and connect with our inner essence.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025
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Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
The band includes long-time musicians Michael Williams (guitar and vocals), Peter Sharpe (mandolin and vocals), Lenny Bole (banjo and dobro), and Given Harrison (bass and vocals).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
In the early 1880s, mandolins were all the rage, and a wave of mandolin clubs emerged.
—Sarah Biegelsen, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
With a sweet voice driven by acoustic guitars, analog textures and mandolin, Silva’s music is like an embrace for the soul, an invitation to celebrate our imperfections and connect with our inner essence.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandolin
Cite this Entry
“Mandolin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandolin. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mandolin
noun
man·do·lin
ˌman-də-ˈlin
ˈman-dᵊl-ən
variants
also mandoline
ˌman-də-ˈlēn
ˈman-dᵊl-ən
: a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and four to six pairs of strings played by plucking
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