quartet

noun

quar·​tet kwȯr-ˈtet 

variants or less commonly quartette

1

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

2

: a group or set of four

especially : the performers of a quartet

Examples of quartet in a Sentence

He is a member of a jazz quartet.

a string quartet by Beethoven

The author wrote a quartet of novels about the same character.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the newest bands on the Street Mob roster, the quartet has stood out for its smoother, more sentimental approach to música mexicana — and for the wildly likable onstage presence of singer and frontman Gustavo Raya-García. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026

The quartet opened their first shop in June 2018 on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

Fratti the excellent Hagen with Titanic, Orcutt a guitar quartet called Music in Continuous Motion. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026

Growing up together in 1950s Naples, the two have a series of minor conflicts before their last and final split, the one that frames the narrative of the quartet. —Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian quartetto, from quarto fourth, from Latin quartus — more at quart

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing quartet

• barbershop quartet
• string quartet

Rhymes for quartet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

quartet

noun

quar·​tet

variants also quartette

kwȯr-ˈtet 

1

a

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

b

: the performers of a quartet

2

: a group or set of four