tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn How to pronounce tambourine (audio)
: a small drum
especially : a shallow one-headed drum with loose metallic disks at the sides played especially by shaking or striking with the hand

Illustration of tambourine

Illustration of tambourine

Examples of tambourine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By the time the chorus rolled around, the commuters were in full voice, shouting along (and filming the whole thing for posterity), as Fallon banged on a tambourine. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025 The singer stood back by the drums, shaking a tambourine. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025 Fall is a season of revelry, heralded with a tambourine. Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 Pretty soon, they were joined by supporters with tambourines and flags, men in lucha libre masks, women in scarves and fans from San Diego, Tijuana and beyond wearing chrome, azul, orange, yellow and red. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tambourine

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tambourin, diminutive of tambour

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tambourine was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tambourine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tambourine. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

tambourine

noun
tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn How to pronounce tambourine (audio)
: a shallow drum with one head and loose metal disks at the sides that is played by shaking or striking with the hand

More from Merriam-Webster on tambourine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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