musical instrument mu·si·ca·linstrument uncommon noun 1. any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds Synonymsmusical instrumentinstrument Related words Word family instrumentinstrumentate Broader terms device Narrower terms barrel organbasscalliopecelestaelectronic instrumentjew's harpmusic boxpercussion instrument WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.