synthesizer

noun

syn·​the·​siz·​er ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsī-zər How to pronounce synthesizer (audio)
1
: one that synthesizes
an expert synthesizer of diverse views
2
: a usually computerized electronic apparatus for the production and control of sound (as for producing music)

Examples of synthesizer in a Sentence

The band used a synthesizer for the drumbeat.
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.
The showcase traces technology from the ‘50s until the dawn of the internet age and features more than 70 artists and more than 150 works, from psychedelic installations to home computers and video synthesizers. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 26 Mar. 2025 Her voice sounds pure and soft over a tangle of synthesizers, gamelan, harp, and drum machine. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025 Frontman Isaac Brock and his bandmates also dug through their personal collection of music gear to sell over 500 items—including vintage synthesizers, amps, pedals, and microphones—on Reverb. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2025 The track showed how electronic instruments such as the synthesizer and drum machine could recast traditional rhythmic patterns into something entirely new. Joycelyn Wilson, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synthesizer

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synthesizer was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Synthesizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthesizer. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

synthesizer

noun
syn·​the·​siz·​er -ˌsī-zər How to pronounce synthesizer (audio)
1
: one that synthesizes
2
: a computer-controlled device that creates and modifies sound (as for producing music)

More from Merriam-Webster on synthesizer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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