xylophone

noun

xy·​lo·​phone ˈzī-lə-ˌfōn 

 also  ˈzi-

: a percussion instrument consisting of a series of wooden bars graduated in length to produce the musical scale, supported on belts of straw or felt, and sounded by striking with two small wooden hammers

xylophonist

ˈzī-lə-ˌfō-nist 

 also  ˈzi-

noun

Illustration of xylophone

Examples of xylophone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compounding the cacophony is a Jonny Greenwood score that veers between manic percolation—imagine a xylophone humping a coffeepot—and grandly operatic surges of synth. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

There’s little xylophone runs and bizarre sound effects that come out of nowhere, and the low Frank Zappa voice can be heard in some sections. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025

Volunteers demonstrated a variety of instruments, including violins, cellos, guitars, xylophones, drums, keyboards, violins and bells. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 22 July 2025

Amid a xylophone of pastel beach-front buildings, the old Belle Vue Royal Hotel is an anaemic yellow. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 8 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for xylophone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

xylophone

noun

xy·​lo·​phone ˈzī-lə-ˌfōn 

: a musical instrument consisting of a series of wooden bars varying in length and sounded by striking with two wooden hammers

xylophonist

-ˌfō-nəst 

noun

Etymology

from Greek xylo- "wood, of wood" (from xylon "wood") and English -phone "sound, a sound-producing device"