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.
Not a tambourine, not a brief turn at the piano — nothing. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025 The tambourine-wielding doll wears a witchy, all-black look lifted from the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 masterwork. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 A’ja Wilson stood inside a circle of her Las Vegas Aces teammates on Friday, playing a tambourine. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025 After the win, Wilson walked around the bowels of Mortgage Matchup Center, rattling a pink tambourine that an Aces trainer gave her. Ben Pickman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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