# saxophone

/ˈsæksəˌfoʊn/ (US) · /sˈæksəfˌəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saxophone
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. musical instrument

noun · CEFR A2

a metal musical instrument that you play by blowing into a mouthpiece with a reed.

For teachers: a woodwind instrument made of brass with a single-reed mouthpiece and a curved body.

- He started learning the saxophone because he loved listening to jazz records.
- The soloist stepped forward, the golden bell of his saxophone catching the stage lights as he began a complex improvisation.

### 2. a player

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who plays the saxophone.

For teachers: a musician who performs on the saxophone; a saxophonist.

- The band is looking for a new saxophone to join them for the summer tour.
- The lead saxophone delivered a blistering solo that earned a standing ovation from the crowded club.

### 3. to play the instrument

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to play music on a saxophone.

For teachers: to perform music using a saxophone; often used in a casual or descriptive sense.

- She spent the whole afternoon saxophoning in her room to prepare for the concert.
- He spent his weekends saxophoning in the subway, earning just enough in tips to cover his monthly reed expenses.

## Examples

- He plays the saxophone in a local jazz band.
- The street performer played a soulful melody on his saxophone, drawing a large crowd of tourists.
- While the saxophone is most famously associated with the improvisational freedom of jazz, it was originally designed to bridge the tonal gap between woodwinds and brass in military bands.

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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.