saxophone

noun

sax·​o·​phone ˈsak-sə-ˌfōn 

: one of a group of single-reed woodwind instruments usually ranging from soprano to bass and characterized by a conical metal tube and finger keys

saxophonic

ˌsak-sə-ˈfō-nik 

-ˈfä-

adjective

saxophonist

ˈsak-sə-ˌfō-nist 

especially British sak-ˈsä-fə-

noun

Illustration of saxophone

Examples of saxophone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At 55, Kid Rock barely stopped moving for nearly two hours — hopping, scratching records, playing saxophone, climbing a grand piano and conducting his band through country, rap-rock, blues and Southern rock. —Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026

Drummer Antonin Gerbal joins in with a tumbao-esque rhythm faithful to the tune’s Latin characteristics, followed by Seymour Wright on alto saxophone. —Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026

Featuring Steven Bernstein on brass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Douglas Wieselman on winds and guitar, Briggan Krauss on saxophone and guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass, these arrangements are more muscular and robust than many of their original incarnations. —David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026

There, the pair of college students would listen to the trills of saxophones and shake hands with musicians, sometimes giving band members rides to gigs. —Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Antoine-Joseph (or Adolphe) Sax †1894 Belgian instrument maker + French -phone

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for saxophone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

saxophone

noun

sax·​o·​phone ˈsak-sə-ˌfōn 

: a musical instrument of the woodwind class consisting of a usually curved metal tube with finger keys and a reed mouthpiece

saxophonist

-ˌfō-nəst 

noun

Etymology

named for Antoine "Adolph" Sax 1814–1894 a Belgian maker of musical instruments