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

The melody is carried as a saxophone and sousaphone join in. —Jenny Adams, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

Elsewhere is a framed photo of Springsteen’s guitar and Clarence Clemons’ saxophone. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

There’s an analogous cool-verging-on-blasé lyrical delivery set off by animalesque saxophones. —Rumaan Alam, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

Distinguished from others by his years of classical training studying saxophone at Cuba’s National School of Music, Mustelier Oruña stands among a new generation of artists pushing the genre forward. —Ana González Vilá, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 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