What does vocalist mean?
A vocalist is a person who sings, especially as a member of a musical group or as a professional recording or performing artist. The word is especially common in popular music, jazz, gospel, rock, and programme credits, where it names the person responsible for the vocal part: for example, a lead vocalist sings the principal melody while other performers provide accompaniment or backing. Vocalist is broadly neutral in gender and register. It is somewhat more specific than singer, since it foregrounds the musical role, although usage does not require the person to be a full-time professional. In ordinary conversation, singer is usually the more natural word; vocalist is particularly useful when discussing band roles, featured performers, or an ensemble's vocal personnel. The term can also occur in a historical sense for someone trained in vocal exercises. Its meaning therefore extends beyond singing itself: it identifies a person regarded in terms of vocal performance and, more broadly, a voice within an artistic ensemble.
nounA person who sings, especially as a professional performer or as the singing member of a musical group.
- A person who sings, especially as a professional performer or as the singing member of a musical group.
- Historically, a person who practised vocal exercises or received training in voice production.
"The acclaimed vocalist performed the new song with a small jazz ensemble."
"The band's lead vocalist wrote most of the songs on the new album."
"She is also an accomplished classical vocalist with experience in opera and lieder."
The regular plural is vocalists.
"Several vocalists from the choir performed at the festival."
A vocalist began as someone trained in vocal exercises; later, the word became a musical byword for the person carrying the song.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vocalist come from?
The English word vocalist was formed in the early nineteenth century from vocal and the suffix -ist, denoting a practitioner. Its earliest use referred to someone who practised vocal exercises, but it subsequently came to mean a singer, especially one performing as part of a musical act. Vocal derives from Latin vocalis, meaning “of or relating to the voice,” from vox, meaning “voice,” and connects the word with relatives such as voice, invoke, and vociferous.
How vocalist is actually used
Vocalist is generally neutral in register and gender. It is especially common in popular music, jazz, gospel, and performance credits, where it identifies singing as a distinct role. Singer is usually more natural in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with vocalist
Vocal is an adjective relating to the voice and can also name a song's sung part, whereas a vocalist is the person who performs that part.