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

Before that tournament, this tennis quartet had claimed two major titles, both won by Świątek. — Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen, two standouts in the Lynx championship quartet, now share the sideline with Reeve as assistants. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Maruja Limón hails from Barcelona, as do the like-minded, all-woman quartets Las Migas and Ketekalles. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026

Joined by pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris and drummer Nazir Ebo, the acclaimed saxophonist showcased the quartet’s remarkable chemistry through a set of lyrical melodies, intricate interplay and expansive improvisation. — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 7 July 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
• binet
• 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