instrumental

noun

(music) A composition written or performed without lyrics or singing, using a lead instrument to replace vocals.

(grammar) The instrumental case.

adjective

(music) Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for an instrument, especially a musical instrument (rather than the human voice).

(music) A pause in the vocals of a song, usually occurring midway through, in which a musical instrument replaces the vocals.

Essential or central; of great importance or relevance.

Serving as an instrument, medium, means, or agency.

(grammar) Applied to a case expressing means or agency, generally corresponding to the English use of prepositions such as by, with, through, or by means of with the objective case.

Roots

struostru- · Latin · build

Synonyms for instrumental

orchestraladj symphonicadj

Synonyms & related words for instrumental

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of instrumental — including orchestral, symphonic. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to instrumental

Explore words related to instrumental — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include instrumentally, continuo, electrophone, music, vocals, instruments, melodies, melodic. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for instrumental

Common synonyms for instrumental include orchestral, symphonic — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does instrumental come from?

The word instrumental breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root stru-, from Latin struo (“build”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.