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

In the short term, the attacking quartet of Summerville, Castellanos, Pablo Felipe and club captain Jarrod Bowen will be key to West Ham’s survival hopes. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

The quartet also tested the suits' audio and video communication systems. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026

After all, his receiving corps is comprised of the solid-but-uninspiring quartet of Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman and Dawson Knox. —Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026

His absence left yet another hole in the quartet featuring him, Ball, Knueppel and Bridges. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 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