instrumental
adjective
Did you know?
An instrument is a tool, something used to construct. It's often a tool for making music. A musical saw happens to be a carpenter's tool that can be played with a violin bow (though you probably wouldn't want to play a wrench or a pair of pliers). The musical meanings of instrumental, as in "It starts with an instrumental piece" or "a jazz instrumental", are common. But the meanings "helpful", "useful", and "essential", as in "He was instrumental in getting my book published", are just as common.
Examples of instrumental in a Sentence
Eric Fuller, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Prosecutors later argued that the anonymity afforded by bitcoin was instrumental in allowing Silk Road vendors mask their identities.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2025
Ultimately, video clips of the attack showed that the Proud Boys were instrumental in encouraging other rioters to confront the police or in confronting officers themselves.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Both pitchers add depth to a bullpen that was instrumental in helping the Dodgers secure a five-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees last October.
—Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for instrumental 
Dictionary Entries Near instrumental
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrumental. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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instrumental
adjective
Medical Definition
instrumental
adjective
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