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

When his saxophone teacher encouraged him to check out the music of Coltrane and bebop sax pioneer Charlie Parker, the 11-year-old Levy didn’t waste any time following through. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025

Ned Flanders' wife, Maude, famously died in a 2000 episode, and a memorable 1995 episode emotionally killed off Lisa Simpson's mentor, saxophone player Bleeding Gums Murphy. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

Escobedo was a gifted saxophone player and spent time touring with Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony, and Cecilia Noël. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025

Escobedo played the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones and also sang as part of the Cleto and the Cletones house band. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 Nov. 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