soprano

1 of 2

adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō  -ˈprä- 

: relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano

2 of 2

noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati

also : a person having this voice

2

: the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus

3

: a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

Example Sentences

Noun

She sings in a high soprano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and international cello star Alisa Weilerstein will present unique programs during the society’s ProtoStar Innovative Series. —Beth Woodcontributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2022

Soprano Kearstin Piper Brown and mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford were splendid surprises to me — the former’s tone bright but burnished, the latter’s rich and luxurious. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2022

Conductor Gabriel Crouch will lead the Portland Baroque Orchestra, the Cappella Romana vocal ensemble, and soprano Maya Kherani, mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis, tenor Thomas Cooley, and bass-baritone Douglas Williams. —oregonlive, 28 Nov. 2022

So the excitement of singing, or often belting, those mezzo-soprano songs comes from the strain of challenging the high end of one’s vocal range. —Ada Tsengassistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022

The mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Paz and the baritone Alfredo Daza will create the roles of Frida and Diego. —Thomas May, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2022

Such is the case with mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis, who grew up in the small North Texas town of Keene. —Dallas News, 30 May 2022

Among a sprawling cast, the robust baritone Lucas Meachem (as the diplomat De Siriex) and the bright soprano Rosa Feola (Countess Olga) did their best in bland supporting parts. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2023

But the limpid-toned soprano went solo at 19, pursuing her own version of Western pop-soul, often with English lyrics. —Chris Richards, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, adjective & noun, from sopra above, from Latin supra — more at supra-

First Known Use

Adjective

1730, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing soprano

• mezzo-soprano

• mezzo-soprano

Kids Definition

soprano

1 of 2 adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpran-ō  -ˈprän- 

1

: relating to the soprano voice or part

2

: having a high range

soprano sax

soprano

2 of 2 noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest voice part in harmony for four parts with men's and women's voices compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, tenor sense 2a

2

: the highest singing voice of women or boys

also : a person with this voice