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

Chenier also added electric guitars (Landreth played with him in the 1970s and 1980s) and saxophone (with Louisiana native and Philip Glass Ensemble member Dickie Landry occasionally sitting in). —Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025

Cynthia Robinson played the trumpet, Greg Errico the drums and Jerry Martini the saxophone, and bassist and vocalist Larry Graham completed the lineup. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 9 June 2025

Chaining two of these machines together, Kalma was able to create analog loops of saxophone, church organ, and other instruments, layering them with poetry and found sound in his first original compositions. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 8 June 2025

Headliners include piano/saxophone duet and accordion/piano solo. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 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