quintet

noun

quin·​tet kwin-ˈtet 

1

: a musical composition or movement for five instruments or voices

2

: a group or set of five: such as

a

: the performers of a quintet

b

: a basketball team

Did you know?

A classical quintet is usually written for strings (usually two violins, two violas, and a cello) or woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn), but brass quintets (two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba) have also become popular in North America recently. In jazz, Miles Davis led two famous quintets. In pop music, the Miracles, the Temptations, and the Jackson 5 were immensely popular vocal quintets. In rock, one of the most common instrumental lineups has been a quintet consisting of two guitars, a bass, a keyboard, and drums; famous rock quintets have included the Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Wind quintet programs are often padded with arrangements of pieces for other ensembles. —Dallas News, 8 Feb. 2022

But there are also funky touches, an old-timey singalong that closes the album and a countrified duet with Megan Kelleher (lead singer for Divine Sweater, a New York quintet whose members are friends of the group). —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023

The concert will be performed by two chamber music groups, the Blue Hill Chamber Players and the brass quintet called Bailey Street Brass in a program that celebrates the intimacy of small ensemble performances. —Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Jan. 2023

There’s a new starting quintet with a better offense-defense blend. —Chris Fedor, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2022

The title of the Stephenville quintet’s third album, Tejano Punk Boyz, barely scratches the surface of the band’s anything-goes sound, which includes metal, country and enough pop melodies to endear the group to radio. —Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023

The quintet Melt performs at 8 p.m. from the Troubadour in Los Angeles. —Gary Graff, cleveland, 14 Dec. 2022

With a quintet of very budget-conscious clubs, trade activity may be highest and most important here as teams aim for payroll neutrality by dealing from areas of strength to shore up glaring weaknesses. —Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2022

The super high-rise fit couples with a quintet of silver buttons for a look that feels retro, but that quickly dresses up a would-be casual jeans-and-tee moment. —Calin Van Paris, Peoplemag, 20 Dec. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

quintet from Italian quintetto, from quinto fifth, from Latin quintus; quintette from French, from Italian quintetto

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

quintet

noun

quin·​tet kwin-ˈtet 

1

a

: a musical composition for five instruments or voices

b

: the performers of a quintet

2

: a group or set of five