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

Charles Moselle plays saxophone on two pieces as well as bansuri, a bamboo flute from India. —Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

The track also features saxophone from Henry Solomon. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025

The Beacon Theatre crowd included not only festival co-founder Robert De Niro and producer Tom Hanks, but actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Mariska Hargitay and Joel's peak recording era band members Liberty DeVitto (drums), Richie Cannata (saxophone) and Russell Javors (guitar). —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 6 June 2025

The meaning isn’t lost on the 28-year-producer, who is tall, has blessed bone structure and is wearing a t-shirt printed with an image of his dad, the late Dutch saxophone player Gerbrand Westveen, who is shown in his own moment of musical brilliance while playing two saxophones simultaneously. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 28 May 2025

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