quintet

noun

quin·​tet kwin-ˈtet 

1

: a musical composition or movement for five instruments or voices

2

: a group or set of five: such as

a

: the performers of a quintet

b

: a basketball team

Did you know?

A classical quintet is usually written for strings (usually two violins, two violas, and a cello) or woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn), but brass quintets (two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba) have also become popular in North America recently. In jazz, Miles Davis led two famous quintets. In pop music, the Miracles, the Temptations, and the Jackson 5 were immensely popular vocal quintets. In rock, one of the most common instrumental lineups has been a quintet consisting of two guitars, a bass, a keyboard, and drums; famous rock quintets have included the Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys.

Examples of quintet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Popular on Variety When younger brother Donny joined up in 1970, the quartet became a quintet and the name was changed to simply the Osmonds. —Matt Minton, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025

For all the great pitching San Francisco has gotten this millennium, the quintet of Lincecum, Bumgarner, Cain, Webb and Schmidt separated themselves from the pack. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 1 Jan. 2025

Hailing from Mobile, Ala., the quintet has earned a large following and is able to sell out venues across the U.S. —Jim Asker, Billboard, 13 Dec. 2024

In photos shared online, the quintet posed with each other and with fans. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

quintet from Italian quintetto, from quinto fifth, from Latin quintus; quintette from French, from Italian quintetto

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

quintet

noun

quin·​tet kwin-ˈtet 

1

a

: a musical composition for five instruments or voices

b

: the performers of a quintet

2

: a group or set of five