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Definition of vibraphone
vibraphone
/ˈvaɪ.brə.foʊn/
vi · bra · phone
Plural:vibraphones
•Adjective:vibraphonic
vibraphone Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
vibraphone Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A musical percussion instrument resembling the xylophone but featuring tuned metal bars, a sustain pedal, and motor-driven resonators that produce a characteristic pulsating vibrato sound.
Example
"The jazz quartet featured a long, mesmerizing solo on the vibraphone."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for vibraphoneWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the xylophone and marimba, which have wooden bars, whereas the vibraphone is distinguished by its tuned metal bars, a sustain pedal, and a motor that creates a vibrato effect.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the United States in the early 1920s as a commercial name, formed by combining 'vibrato' (or 'vibration') with the Greek suffix '-phone' (sound).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vibraphone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vibraphone