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.

Examples of quintet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That ticket didn’t take the Mega Millions top prize, which will be $321 million on Friday, nor did any ticket have either of the Fantasy 5 jackpot quintets. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Founding members Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts revived PCD earlier this year following a brief reunion as a quintet in 2019. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

He’s also served as musical director for Sia and was a founding member of the quintet Kneebody. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026

The Highland Park High School string quintet performed as the auditorium emptied. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for quintet

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

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