vocal cords

plural noun

: either of two pairs of folds of mucous membranes that project into the cavity of the larynx and have free edges extending dorsoventrally toward the middle line

Examples of vocal cords in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The group had to cancel a tour in 2024 and announced that there would be no more performances, as Steven Tyler was unable to recover from serious injuries to his vocal cords, and what is Aerosmith without his voice? —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

That show was, in its way, radically exposing: at one point, Costanzo swallowed a scoping camera so that the audience could see his vocal cords flexing as his voice changed registers. —Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025

Laryngeal cancer attacks tissues in the voice box (larynx), which houses your vocal cords. —Karen Pallarito, Health, 11 Aug. 2025

While her diagnosis wasn't immediately clear, Twain said the disease's impact on her vocal cords served as a red flag. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vocal cords

• harpsichords
• overlords
• storyboards
• accords
• affords
• awards
• billboards
• blackboards
• clapboards
• dashboards
• discords
• floorboards

Kids Definition

vocal cords

plural noun

: either of two pairs of elastic folds of tissue in the larynx of which the lower pair produce the voice when air exhaled from the lungs causes them to vibrate