sinfonietta

noun

sin·​fo·​niet·​ta ˌsin-fən-ˈye-tə How to pronounce sinfonietta (audio)
-fōn-
1
: a symphony of less than standard length or for fewer instruments
2
: a small symphony orchestra
especially : an orchestra of strings only

Examples of sinfonietta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And much of the balance between his group and the sinfonietta was yet to be hashed out. Seth Colter Walls, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sinfonietta.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of sinfonia

First Known Use

circa 1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinfonietta was circa 1907

Dictionary Entries Near sinfonietta

Cite this Entry

“Sinfonietta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinfonietta. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

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