trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbōn, 

ˈträm-ˌbōn

: a brass instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube with two turns and having a movable slide or valves for varying the tone and a usual range one octave lower than that of the trumpet

trombonist

träm-ˈbō-nist 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbō-, 

ˈträm-ˌbō-

noun

Illustration of trombone

Examples of trombone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Liston changed history by becoming the first woman soloist, trombone player, composer and arranger to play on stage alongside men. —Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026

But New York lounge singer and trombone player Richie Nuzz told his TikTok followers that the Swift-Kelce party caught his act that night in Cipriani’s jazz club. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026

That's a trombone with the wolves. —Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026

Seven clarinets, three flutes, three saxophones, two trumpets and a trombone, worth a total of about $15,000, were taken, according to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office report. —Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, augmentative of tromba trumpet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trombone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-

: a brass wind instrument with a section that can slide in and out to make different tones

trombonist

-ˈbō-nəst 

noun

Etymology

from Italian trombone, literally "large trumpet," from tromba "trumpet"