instrumental

American  

[in-struh-men-tl] / ˌɪn strəˈmɛn tl /

adjective

1. serving or acting as an instrument or means; useful; helpful.

   Synonyms:

   effective, effectual, implemental

2. performed on or written for a musical instrument or instruments.

   instrumental music.

3. of or relating to an instrument or tool.

4. Grammar.

   1. (in certain inflected languages, as Old English and Russian) noting or pertaining to a case having as its distinctive function the indication of means or agency, as Old English beseah blīthe andweitan “looked with a happy countenance.”

   2. noting the affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.

   3. similar to such a case form in function or meaning, as the Latin instrumental ablative, gladiō, “by means of a sword.”

   4. (in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role of a noun phrase that indicates the inanimate, nonvolitional, immediate cause of the action expressed by a verb, as the rock in The rock broke the window or in I broke the window with the rock.

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noun

1. Grammar.

   1. the instrumental case.

   2. a word in the instrumental case.

   3. a construction of similar meaning.

2. a musical composition played by an instrument or a group of instruments.

instrumental British  

/ ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. serving as a means or influence; helpful

2. of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments

3. played by or composed for musical instruments

4. grammar denoting a case of nouns, etc, in certain inflected languages, indicating the instrument used in performing an action, usually translated into English using the prepositions with or by means of

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noun

1. a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices

2. grammar

   1. the instrumental case

   2. a word or speech element in the instrumental case

Other Word Forms

• instrumentality noun
• instrumentally adverb
• noninstrumental adjective
• noninstrumentally adverb
• uninstrumental adjective
• uninstrumentally adverb

Etymology

Origin of instrumental

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word instrūmentālis. See instrument, -al ¹

Explanation

Instrumental music involves just instruments — no singing. But you could also say that the conductor is instrumental to — or a critical part of — an orchestra's success. If you enjoy the ballet, part of it may be the instrumental music that accompanies the graceful movements. An instrumental song is one without a singer, and there can be instrumental passages of any song, where the band just plays and the singer is quiet. But this word also means something like useful. You could say that Martin Luther King, Jr. was an instrumental part of the civil rights movement because he was such an important part of it.

Example Sentences

The scene where the quartet plays their pre-wedding parlor game occurs about 25 minutes into Borgli’s film, and is ripe with instrumental, pre-twist subtext.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

After meeting as teenagers, he and Seals moved to California together in the late ’50s to pursue music and soon joined the Champs, who’d just topped the Hot 100 with the mostly instrumental hit “Tequila.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

A Google insider told me Brittin shaped the response: "He swiftly apologised and was instrumental in getting it sorted".

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

This month, the National Rally’s backing could prove instrumental again to help him win municipal elections in his hometown of Nice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

The students at Bennett and A&T were instrumental to the sit-ins’ success.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Related Words

• involved