woodwind

noun

wood·​wind ˈwu̇d-ˌwind 

1

: any of a group of wind instruments (such as a clarinet, flute, oboe, or saxophone) that are characterized by a cylindrical or conical tube of wood or metal usually ending in a slightly flared bell, that produce tones by the vibration of one or two reeds in the mouthpiece or by the passing of air over a mouth hole, and that usually have finger holes or keys by which the player may produce all the tones within an instrument's range

2

woodwinds plural : the woodwind section of a band or orchestra

Examples of woodwind in a Sentence

He plays all the woodwind instruments very well.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then a woodwind part comes in, light and airy, and with it an overwhelming feeling of grace. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026

Muted guitars twirl in curlicued shapes, fleshed out by harp, woodwinds, and brass; clanking bells and mbira-like harmonics flare up in quiet patches, and background vocals fan across the stereo field. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 19 May 2026

Division/category winners, who receive $250 each, were French horn player William McCandless for brass, Ryan Li for piano and violinist Vann Lee for strings, all from the Little Rock/North Little Rock area, and clarinetist Matthew Sontoski of Bella Vista for woodwinds. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 6 May 2026

Stetson also gathered a lot of woodwinds, particularly clarinets, as a counterpoint to the trees and as a voice for the icy, violent dread that hangs over the Harkin-Cunningham nuptials. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing woodwind

• woodwind section

Rhymes for woodwind

• chagrined
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• whirlwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned
• sinned
• skinned
• thinned

Kids Definition

woodwind

noun

wood·​wind ˈwu̇d-ˌwind 

1

: one of a group of musical instruments including flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, and sometimes saxophones compare brass instrument, percussion instrument, stringed instrument

2

plural : the woodwind instruments of a band or orchestra

woodwind adjective