A1 noun Neutral

vocalist

/ˈvoʊ.kə.lɪst/

A vocalist is a person who sings, especially as a professional performer in a band or a musical group. The term is often used to describe someone whose primary contribution to a performance is their singing voice rather than an instrument.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The lead vocalist of the band is very talented.

The main singer of the group is very skilled.

2

The committee is searching for a trained vocalist for the opera performance.

The group is looking for a professional singer for the show.

3

Hey, check out that new vocalist on YouTube; she's great!

Listen to that new singer on the internet; she is excellent.

Word Family

Noun
vocalist
Verb
vocalize
Adverb
vocally
Adjective
vocal
Related
vocals
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Memory Tip

Remember that 'vocal' refers to the voice. A vocalist is a 'voice-ist'—someone whose instrument is their voice.

Quick Quiz

The band is looking for a new ____ to sing their original songs.

Correct!

The correct answer is: vocalist

Examples

1

The lead vocalist of the band is very talented.

everyday

The main singer of the group is very skilled.

2

The committee is searching for a trained vocalist for the opera performance.

formal

The group is looking for a professional singer for the show.

3

Hey, check out that new vocalist on YouTube; she's great!

informal

Listen to that new singer on the internet; she is excellent.

4

Research suggests that a vocalist's lung capacity is higher than that of a non-singer.

academic

Studies show singers have better breathing abilities than people who do not sing.

5

The recording studio hired a session vocalist to finish the track.

business

The studio paid a professional singer to help complete the song.

Word Family

Noun
vocalist
Verb
vocalize
Adverb
vocally
Adjective
vocal
Related
vocals

Common Collocations

lead vocalist the main singer in a group
female vocalist a woman who sings
guest vocalist a singer performing temporarily with a band
backing vocalist a singer providing harmony for the main singer
trained vocalist a person who has studied how to sing

Common Phrases

male vocalist

a man who sings

featured vocalist

a singer highlighted in a specific song

session vocalist

a singer hired to work in a recording studio

Often Confused With

vocalist vs singer

'Singer' is more common and general; 'vocalist' is often used in professional music contexts to sound more technical.

vocalist vs musician

A vocalist is a type of musician, but 'musician' usually refers to someone playing a physical instrument.

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Usage Notes

Use 'vocalist' when you want to sound professional or when discussing a member of a band specifically responsible for the singing parts.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'vocalist' for someone who just talks a lot, but it is strictly for singing. Avoid saying 'the song's vocalist'; use 'the band's vocalist' instead.

💡

Memory Tip

Remember that 'vocal' refers to the voice. A vocalist is a 'voice-ist'—someone whose instrument is their voice.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin word 'vocalis', meaning 'pertaining to the voice'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (one vocalist, two vocalists) Can be used with gender modifiers (male/female) Often used in the compound noun 'lead vocalist'
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Cultural Context

In many modern music genres like rock or pop, the lead vocalist is considered the 'face' of the band.

Quick Quiz

The band is looking for a new ____ to sing their original songs.

Correct!

The correct answer is: vocalist

More music words

melody

A1

A melody is a sequence of musical notes that are pleasant to listen to and form a main tune. It is the part of a song that people usually hum or sing along with.

note

A1

In music, a note is a single sound with a specific pitch and length. It also refers to the written symbol on a page that tells a musician which sound to play.

scale

A1

A musical scale is a set of musical notes ordered by pitch, going up or down in a specific pattern. It acts like a ladder of sounds that musicians use to create melodies and harmonies.

sharp

A1

In music, a sharp is a symbol (#) that tells a player to play a note one half-step higher. It also refers to the specific note that has been raised.

flat

A1

In music, a flat is a symbol (♭) that tells a musician to play a note a half-step lower than usual. It also describes a sound or voice that is slightly lower than the correct musical pitch.

beat

A1

The regular pulse or rhythm in a piece of music that you can clap your hands or tap your feet to. It is the basic unit of time in a song that helps musicians stay together.

bar

A1

In music, a bar is a short section of music that contains a specific number of beats. It is shown on paper by vertical lines that divide the musical staff into equal parts.

time signature

A1

A time signature is a set of two numbers at the beginning of a piece of music. It tells the musician how many beats are in each measure and which note value represents one beat.

instrument

A1

An object that is played to make musical sounds, such as a piano, guitar, or drum. It can also be a tool used by scientists or doctors to do very exact work.

violin

A1

A musical instrument with four strings that is held under the chin and played with a bow. It is known for its high-pitched, expressive sound and is used in many types of music, especially classical and folk.

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