# sax

/ˈsæks/ (US) · /sˈæks/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sax
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a common short name for the saxophone. It is a metal musical instrument that you blow into to play jazz or classical music.

For teachers: a shortened, informal name for the saxophone. Refers to the woodwind instrument typically made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece.

## Examples

- He plays the sax in a local jazz band.
- The lead musician switched from the trumpet to the sax for the final solo of the night.
- While the instrument is technically classified as a woodwind due to its reed, the sax is often associated with the brass section in modern popular music arrangements.

## Usage notes

- Informal shortening of 'saxophone'; acceptable in casual speech and music journalism but less common in formal academic writing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.