contralto
noun
con·tral·to
kən-ˈtral-(ˌ)tō 
plural contraltos
1
a
: a singing voice having a range between tenor and mezzo-soprano
b
: a person having this voice
2
: the part sung by a contralto
Examples of contralto in a Sentence
a duet performed by a soprano and a contralto
Recent Examples on the Web
An early aughts indie breakout who matured into a steadily working singer-songwriter, Case treats her distinctive contralto, elastic and candy-colored, with a sense of gravitas.
—
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
But then comes the commanding contralto of Annie Lennox, and all that is overcome.
—Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
Yarrow was the tenor in Peter, Paul and Mary, his tender and attentive vocals sandwiched between the soothing baritone of Noel Paul Stookey and the airy contralto of Mary Travers.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
The home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, will be renamed in honor of the pioneering Black contralto, according to The Associated Press.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contralto 
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Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
But then comes the commanding contralto of Annie Lennox, and all that is overcome.
—Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
Yarrow was the tenor in Peter, Paul and Mary, his tender and attentive vocals sandwiched between the soothing baritone of Noel Paul Stookey and the airy contralto of Mary Travers.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
The home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, will be renamed in honor of the pioneering Black contralto, according to The Associated Press.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contralto
Dictionary Entries Near contralto
Cite this Entry
“Contralto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contralto. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contralto
noun
con·tral·to
kən-ˈtral-tō
plural contraltos
1
a
: the lowest female singing voice
b
: a singer with such a voice
2
: the part sung by a contralto
Etymology
from Italian contralto "lowest female singing voice," from contra- "having a lower pitch than" and alto "a female singing voice"
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