clarinet

noun

clar·​i·​net ˌkler-ə-ˈnet 

ˌkla-rə-;

ˈkler-ə-nət,

ˈkla-rə-

: a single-reed woodwind instrument having a cylindrical tube with a moderately flared bell and a usual range from D below middle C upward for 3¹/₂ octaves

clarinetist noun

or clarinettist

ˌkler-ə-ˈne-tist 

ˌkla-rə-

Illustration of clarinet

Examples of clarinet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Heartbeat presents the hundred-and-twenty-year-old opera in English—a rare occurrence for this particular tale—with instrumentation boiled down to a simple eight clarinets and two percussionists. —The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025

Coming in with a piano background, Joseph started as a bass clarinet player in the band. —Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025

If the lush harmonies and clarinet on Cohen’s version sound familiar, that would be the work of Clairo, another upstate resident. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025

Zoom in: The 18-year-old Philly senior — who founded a psychics and engineering club at his school — also plays soccer, co-captains the Science Olympiad and plays clarinet and tenor saxophone. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French clarinette, probably ultimately from Medieval Latin clarion-, clario

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clarinet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset
• internet

Kids Definition

clarinet

noun

clar·​i·​net ˌklar-ə-ˈnet 

ˈklar-ə-nət

: a woodwind musical instrument in the shape of a cylindrical tube having a single-reed mouthpiece

clarinetist noun

or clarinettist

ˌklar-ə-ˈnet-əst