quartet

noun

quar·​tet kwȯr-ˈtet 

variants or less commonly quartette

1

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

2

: a group or set of four

especially : the performers of a quartet

Examples of quartet in a Sentence

He is a member of a jazz quartet.

a string quartet by Beethoven

The author wrote a quartet of novels about the same character.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Wease has been the best of the quartet, catching multiple touchdown passes in the red zone and finding a knack to get open. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

Along with the pass rushing success, the defense also had a quartet of interceptions. —Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2025

Now a quartet of quintessentially French hotels, art - each of the hotels has a significant collection - plays a central role in the hotel experience. —Sarah Turner, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

Last year was a true four-team race, with a clear quartet vying for the title. —Emily Olsen, New York Times, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian quartetto, from quarto fourth, from Latin quartus — more at quart

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing quartet

• barbershop quartet
• string quartet

Rhymes for quartet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

quartet

noun

quar·​tet

variants also quartette

kwȯr-ˈtet 

1

a

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

b

: the performers of a quartet

2

: a group or set of four