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musician

musician

644 1.8
A person who plays or writes music for others
  • noun
  • /mjuˈzɪʃən/
translation icon : músico
  • She is a talented musician who plays the piano and the guitar.
  • musicians and music
  • musicians play
  • musicians perform

Isn't like now I'm a musician and that's what I do.

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Examples

  • But Yosui learned integrity from failure and became a famous musician who refused to appear on TV.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • A bus of undergraduate choral musicians pulls away from the hotel.

    Academic text (2011)
  • But I am still as a musician, as an artist.

  • This is part of what I do as a musician or a fan.

  • So there was a musician playing and then this song comes on.

  • Dad, you always wanted to be a musician.

  • The girl was dating some musician.

  • Most of us are familiar with the musician Leonard Cohen.

  • She's a very popular musician and actress now.

  • At the rear of the group were the musicians: two violins and a huge bass.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

singer
vsmusician
787 1.0

A person who uses their voice to make music, often on stage

also applies to those who play instruments or compose
composer
vsmusician
316 3.9

A person who writes music as a job

also covers people who play, conduct, or perform music
player
vsmusician
219 2.2

A person who performs music on an instrument for a living

also includes hobbyists and creators, not only professional performers
drummer
vsmusician
171 1.1

A person who plays drums in a band

can also mean someone who creates, directs, or sings music
DJ
vsmusician
153 3.3

A person who chooses and plays recorded music for people

includes people who create music live or play instruments themselves
guitarist
vsmusician
85 2.9

A person who plays the guitar in concerts or as a job

also includes people who write or direct music rather than play
pianist
vsmusician
84 2.6

A person who plays the piano, often as a job or with great skill

includes composers, conductors, and amateur performers too
rocker
vsmusician
51 3.8

A person who plays, writes, or loves rock music

is broader and includes classical, folk, and nonperforming roles
violinist
vsmusician
41 3.7

A person who plays the violin, often professionally

is a broader term that also includes writers and conductors
guitar player
vsmusician
38 1.3

A person who plays the guitar in songs or bands

covers creators and conductors as well as instrument performers
vocalist
vsmusician
37 3.0

A person who sings, often in a band or group

covers singers and also people who play instruments and composers
piano player
vsmusician
22 2.3

A person who plays the piano

covers creators and conductors as well as players
jazz musician
vsmusician
22 2.3

A person who plays or writes jazz music

is a general term that applies across all musical styles and roles
cellist
vsmusician
18 3.5

A person who plays the cello, a large string instrument

is broader, applying to anyone who makes or performs music
fiddler
vsmusician
16 4.3

A person who plays the violin often in folk music

covers similar roles but also formal composers and conductors
saxophonist
vsmusician
12 4.4

A person who plays the saxophone, often as a professional musician

covers all musical roles beyond playing one wind instrument
organist
vsmusician
9 3.7

A person who plays the organ in church or concerts

applies more widely to anyone who composes, conducts, or plays
percussionist
vsmusician
8 4.4

A musician who plays instruments you hit, like drums or cymbals

is broader and includes composing, conducting, and singing
keyboardist
vsmusician
6 3.8

A musician who plays piano or other instruments with keys

is broader, including nonkeyboard roles like composing or conducting
harpist
vsmusician
5 5.5

A person who plays the harp, often as a job or serious hobby

covers wider musical roles such as composing or conducting
instrumentalist
vsmusician
5 5.3

A person who plays a musical instrument, often as a job

includes composing and conducting as well as playing
clarinetist
vsmusician
3 4.9

A musician who plays the clarinet

includes creators and conductors as well as performers
trombonist
vsmusician
3 5.2

A person who plays a large brass instrument with a long slide in bands or orchestras

includes people who write, conduct, or sing as well
flute player
vsmusician
2 2.0

A person who plays the flute as a job or for fun

is the broader term covering writing and directing music too
harper
vsmusician
1 7.8

A person who plays a large instrument with many strings that you pluck

is a general term that also includes creators and conductors
tunesmith
vsmusician
  • Informal
1 7.0

A person who writes songs or melodies for popular music

is broader, covering performers and conductors as well as writers
songster
vsmusician
  • Archaic
1 6.0

A person who sings or writes music

is a wider term that includes people who play instruments, conductors, and composers
harpsichordist
vsmusician
1 9.6

A person who plays the harpsichord as a professional musician

is broader, including modern genres and nonperforming roles
recorder player
vsmusician
1 4.6

A person who performs music on a small wooden wind instrument like a flute

includes composers, conductors, and noninstrumental performers too
band player
vsmusician
1 2.5

A person who plays an instrument in a band, for example a military band

is not limited to group performers and also includes solo creators
recitalist
vsmusician
1 8.6

A musician who gives solo concerts, often playing piano

is broader, applying to many musical roles beyond solo recitals
1 3.3

A person who plays, sings, or writes rock and roll music

covers all genres and also includes nonperforming creators
songsmith
vsmusician
1 7.0

A person who writes songs for a living

also includes those who only perform or direct music rather than write
concertinist
vsmusician
9.9

A person who plays a small instrument like a tiny accordion with buttons

is broader, covering people who write, conduct, or perform music
4.2

A person who sings or plays songs that mix jazz, blues, and gospel

is a general label that applies to all music types and roles
melodist
vsmusician
7.7

A person who writes or performs tunes

is broader, including people who play instruments, conductors, and songwriters

Compounds

22 2.3

A person who plays or writes jazz music

A person who plays, sings, or writes rock and roll music

A person who sings or plays songs that mix jazz, blues, and gospel

How Skilled

virtuoso
12 8.0
musician
644 1.8
amateur
122 2.8
beginner
81 1.0

Surface Forms

musician singular
musicians plural

Morphology

musician = music (transparent) = music + ian

Standard agentive/person-forming suffix '-ian' applied to the noun 'music' yields 'person associated with music', a direct and regular derivation.

Etymology

Musician comes from music, which comes from the old Greek word mousike, meaning 'art of the Muses'. So a musician is someone who makes, plays, or performs music.