violin

1 of 2

noun (1)

vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin How to pronounce violin (audio)
: a bowed stringed instrument having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth and a usual range from G below middle C upward for more than 4½ octaves and having a shallow body, shoulders at right angles to the neck, a fingerboard without frets, and a curved bridge
violinist noun
violinistic adjective

Illustration of violin

Illustration of violin
  • 1 bridge
  • 2 sound hole
  • 3 soundboard
  • 4 fingerboard
  • 5 pegs
  • 6 scroll
  • 7 tailpiece
  • g G-string
  • d D-string
  • a A-string
  • e E-string

violinist

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural -s
: one who plays the violin

Examples of violin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In the sunroom, a boy played concertos on the violin, signalling that this was not an ordinary weekday lunch. Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026 Taking a cue from nickelodeon piano players, composer John Powell steers the mood with a vibrantly eclectic score of sprightly ragtime, violin pathos and popcorn crescendos. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 After cycling through erratic gigs—bus driver, garbage collector, violin maker—his carpentry skills landed him a job on an expedition vessel in Antarctica from 2006 to 2010. Richard Morgan, Time, 29 June 2026 But the violin won’t be easy to steal – also because Maya is not superstitious. Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for violin

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Italian violino, from viola "viola, viol" + -ino, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1

Noun (2)

Italian violinista, from violino violin + -ista -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of violin was circa 1576

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Violin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

violin

noun
vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin How to pronounce violin (audio)
1
: a stringed musical instrument with four strings that is usually held against the shoulder under the chin and played with a bow
2

More from Merriam-Webster on violin

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster