Illustration of mandolin
- mandolin 1
mandolin
noun
man·do·lin
ˌman-də-ˈlin 
ˈman-də-lən
variants
or less commonly mandoline
ˌman-də-ˈlēn
ˈman-də-lən
1
: a musical instrument of the lute family that has a usually pear-shaped body and fretted neck and four to six pairs of strings
2
usually mandoline
[French, from Italian mandolino mandolin]
: a kitchen utensil with a blade for slicing and shredding
Examples of mandolin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, in 2017, vocalist/mandolin player/guitarist Dan Tyminski released the project Southern Gothic, followed by 2023’s God Fearing Heathen.
—
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025
In Through the Out Door (1978) Though Jones stuck to playing bass in concert, he was Led Zeppelin’s secret weapon in the studio, fleshing out tracks with keyboards, mandolin, and string arrangements.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 19 Feb. 2025
With Mike Witcher on dobro and Ethan Ballinger on mandolin, guitar, and harmony vocals, the Luke Bulla Trio gave a commanding performance that well-deserved its standing ovations, the news release stated.
—Del Mar Foundation, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
My background is so much in bluegrass, and bluegrass is all about that choppy kind of backbeat thing with the mandolin.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
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Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025
In Through the Out Door (1978) Though Jones stuck to playing bass in concert, he was Led Zeppelin’s secret weapon in the studio, fleshing out tracks with keyboards, mandolin, and string arrangements.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 19 Feb. 2025
With Mike Witcher on dobro and Ethan Ballinger on mandolin, guitar, and harmony vocals, the Luke Bulla Trio gave a commanding performance that well-deserved its standing ovations, the news release stated.
—Del Mar Foundation, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
My background is so much in bluegrass, and bluegrass is all about that choppy kind of backbeat thing with the mandolin.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandolin
Cite this Entry
“Mandolin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandolin. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mandolin
noun
man·do·lin
ˌman-də-ˈlin
ˈman-dᵊl-ən
variants
also mandoline
ˌman-də-ˈlēn
ˈman-dᵊl-ən
: a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and four to six pairs of strings played by plucking
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