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

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

Some artists have national and international cachet, like soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams, who sings the title role. —Matt Bloom, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025

The beat, driving and clanging, chases after Twigs, who has lowered her soprano some, making her voice round. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 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"