percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkə-shən 
1
: the act of percussing: such as
a
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
b
: the beating or striking of a musical instrument
c
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
2
: the striking of sound on the ear
3
: percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra
percussion
adjective
Examples of percussion in a Sentence
He plays percussion for the band.
The marimba is a percussion instrument.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arnold played the drums on the studio recordings, but the band hired Richard Liles to play percussion on tour so that the songwriter could focus on vocals during live performances.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
The ceremonial procession will feature not only the elaborate lion costumes but also a large percussion team of drums, cymbals and gongs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Unusually, there’s not much percussion proper on the record—Cohran is credited with congas—but every instrument serves a rhythmic function first.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
Four musicians — a pianist, violinist, guitarist and bassist — perform Hale’s adaptations of Dylan’s songs, while the actors creatively jam the percussion parts.
—Danielle Charbonneau, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussion
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Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
The ceremonial procession will feature not only the elaborate lion costumes but also a large percussion team of drums, cymbals and gongs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Unusually, there’s not much percussion proper on the record—Cohran is credited with congas—but every instrument serves a rhythmic function first.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
Four musicians — a pianist, violinist, guitarist and bassist — perform Hale’s adaptations of Dylan’s songs, while the actors creatively jam the percussion parts.
—Danielle Charbonneau, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussion
Cite this Entry
“Percussion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussion. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkəsh-ən
1
: the act of tapping sharply
especially
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
2
: the striking of sound sharply on the ear
Medical Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkəsh-ən
1
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resulting sound
2
: massage consisting of the striking of a body part with light rapid blows
called also tapotement
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