player piano

noun

: a piano containing a mechanism by which it plays automatically

Examples of player piano in a Sentence

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.
By the early 1900s, player pianos had evolved to more fully reproduce a human performance, including subtle dynamics like tempo changes and the introduction of a damper pedal. Adam Ozimek, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026 The old player piano died a slow death and couldn’t be repaired, so it’s gone. Connie Ogle updated February 9, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2026 First, the Art Institute invites Grammy darlings Third Coast Percussion to perform pieces for player piano by late architect Bruce Goff, the subject of a major retrospective running through March. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 The normally bustling area fills with guests sipping drinks accented by a signature rubber ducky from the bar and listening to tunes from the player piano or artists singing lively carols. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for player piano

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of player piano was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“Player piano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/player%20piano. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

player piano

noun
: a piano containing an automatic playing mechanism

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