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

The quartet used the opportunity to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. —Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2025

The quartet played just six games together in 2024-25. —Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025

The quartet are currently in their final phase of training, according to Singh. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025

In that year, Kingston College’s high school boy’s quartet became the first Jamaican high school team to compete at Penn Relays, winning the 4×100 meter COA. —Jared McCallister, New York Daily News, 4 May 2025

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