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
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Frank leads on vocals and razor-sharp mandolin, joined by Tim Stafford and Kelsey Crews on harmonies, Seth Taylor on guitar, Travis Anderson on upright bass, Jim VanCleve on fiddle and Matt Menefee on banjo.
—
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Back then, his father, Dan, was a native of Nashville's northern suburbs who, besides being a fan of the Counting Crows, Hank Williams, Sr. and Dwight Yoakam, grew up playing the mandolin and became the 1991 National Junior Champion at the National Mandolin Championships.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In between, while tending bar at his Rock Garden Tavern, he was known to tie sleigh bells to his knees and sing, play mandolin or fiddle, and—during especially spirited performances—jump from one table to another.
—Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
Fiddles mingle with mandolins, banjos, and guitars in a traditional bluegrass style that’s well orchestrated without feeling a bit rehearsed.
—Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
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Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Back then, his father, Dan, was a native of Nashville's northern suburbs who, besides being a fan of the Counting Crows, Hank Williams, Sr. and Dwight Yoakam, grew up playing the mandolin and became the 1991 National Junior Champion at the National Mandolin Championships.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In between, while tending bar at his Rock Garden Tavern, he was known to tie sleigh bells to his knees and sing, play mandolin or fiddle, and—during especially spirited performances—jump from one table to another.
—Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
Fiddles mingle with mandolins, banjos, and guitars in a traditional bluegrass style that’s well orchestrated without feeling a bit rehearsed.
—Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 12 July 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 29 Jul. 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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