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

The performance features Katherine Polit (soprano), Sarah-Nicole Ruddy-Carter (mezzo soprano), Aaron Humble (tenor) and Michael Sokol (baritone), and includes selections from operas by Delibes, Saint-Saens, Donizetti, Verdi, Offenbach and Wagner. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025

Lincoln-Way East’s Mackenzie Bacha is a soprano with a beautiful left-handed swing. —Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025

Nina Stemme, the Swedish soprano, gave a recital in Carnegie Hall. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 May 2025

Comment At the end of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, the soprano Elza van den Heever stayed onstage to accept the uproarious ovations with a weepy smile and a grateful tap on her heart. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 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"