instrumental
/ɪnstɹəˈmɛntəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.99 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Essential or central; of great importance or relevance.
adj
Serving as an instrument, medium, means, or agency.
adj
Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for an instrument, especially a musical instrument (rather than the human voice).
adj
Of or relating to a case expressing means or agency, generally corresponding to the English use of prepositions such as by, with, through, or by means of with the objective case.
noun
The instrumental case.
noun
A composition written or performed without lyrics or singing, using a lead instrument to replace vocals.
Example Sentences
- "He was instrumental in conducting the business."
- "The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth"
- "Few songwriters have been as instrumental in creating the mold for American music."
- "[...] Prosser was instrumental in the decision in 2010 to recommence publication of an annual health and safety report, following a period when it had fallen into abeyance."
- "Maxwell started back to his study, feeling that kind of satisfaction which a man feels when he has been even partly instrumental in finding an unemployed person a remunerative position."
- "instrumental music"
Etymology
From Middle English instrumental, instrumentale, from Medieval Latin īnstrūmentālis, equivalent to instrument + -al.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: instrumental, īnstrūmentālis