alto

¹ American  

[al-toh] / ˈæl toʊ /

noun

plural

altos

1. the lowest female voice; contralto.

2. the highest male voice; countertenor.

3. a singer with such a voice.

4. a musical part for such a voice.

5. the second highest of the four parts of a mixed vocal chorus, or the voices or persons singing this part.

6. the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments, as the viola in the violin family or the althorn in the cornet family.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or having the tonal range of the alto.

2. (of a musical instrument) second highest in a family of musical instruments.

   alto saxophone.

alto- ² American  

1. variant of alti-.

   altostratus.

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alto- ¹ British  

combining form

1. high

   altocumulus

   altostratus

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alto ² British  

/ ˈæltəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult male voice; countertenor

2. (in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto

3. a singer with such a voice

4. another name for viola 1

5. a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

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adjective

1. denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

alto Cultural  

1. The lowest range of the female singing voice, also called contralto. (Compare mezzo soprano and soprano.)

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Etymology

Origin of alto

1775–85; < Italian < Latin altus high

Explanation

An alto is a woman with a relatively low singing voice. In a choir, alto describes the lowest singing part written for a female voice. While occasionally men are described as altos — in which case, the word describes a fairly high pitched singing voice — it more often describes a woman whose voice is lower than a soprano. The word alto can also refer to other instruments, including saxophones and flutes, at specific pitches. Alto originally described a man's high voice, from a Latin root, altus, or "high."

Example Sentences

“Strasbourg 82” displays how he shaped a cohesive whole from the voices of musicians mostly decades his junior, and how he nurtured future stars including, here, Mr. Blanchard and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

“Chulahoma” is riveting for Mr. Sewell’s lines, which are alternately gritty and soaring, and for Mr. Lloyd’s playing, which hints at the blues-based melodicism of yet another dear, departed friend, the alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

"Her rich alto voice sounded like she was still singing in church, but the lyrics were pure 70s pop/soul," noted US music source Soul Tracks of the track.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2025

This fall, the 30-year-old will perform as an alto chorister in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024

The viola's song is in a language no one knows; it reads from the alto clef, not the treble.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper