soprano

1 of 2

adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō  -ˈprä- 

: relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano

2 of 2

noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati

also : a person having this voice

2

: the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus

3

: a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

Examples of soprano in a Sentence

Noun

She sings in a high soprano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dessay at Stanford: French operatic soprano Natalie Dessay returns to the Bay Area on March 1 as part of the Stanford Live series. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025

About the Spring Gala concert Fleming is a five-time Grammy-winning soprano, who has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, President Barack Obama and at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 18 Feb. 2025

At the end, Hudson’s soprano sax poses a final, poignant question. —Jon Pareles, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025

With a new John Adams concerto, a solo concert by a top-tier soprano, piano music in San Francisco and Palo Alto, and one of the world’s most dramatic — and shortest! — operas, here are four of the can’t-miss performances to enjoy in the New Year. —Georgia Rowe, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, adjective & noun, from sopra above, from Latin supra — more at supra-

First Known Use

Adjective

1730, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing soprano

• mezzo-soprano

Rhymes for soprano

• chicano
• hispano
• serrano
• solano
• americano
• castellano
• cebuano
• mexicano
• llano
• mano

Kids Definition

soprano

1 of 2 adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpran-ō  -ˈprän- 

1

: relating to the soprano voice or part

2

: having a high range

soprano sax

soprano

2 of 2 noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest voice part in harmony for four parts with men's and women's voices compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, tenor sense 2a

2

: the highest singing voice of women or boys

also : a person with this voice

Etymology

Adjective

from Italian soprano "relating to a soprano or soprano part," from sopra "above," from Latin supra "above"