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Meaning & use

fife

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/faɪf/
US/faɪf/

Meaning

  1. nouncountable

    A small, high-pitched flute-like instrument, traditionally played in military and marching bands.

    Grammar: Countable; plural is 'fifes'. Often used with 'play the'.

    Patterns

    • play the fife
    • a fife and drum band

    The soldier played the fife during the parade.

    A fife and drum corps led the procession.

    The shrill sound of the fife could be heard across the battlefield.

Word forms

pluralfifes

Common combinations

play the fife
He learned to play the fife as a young boy.
fife and drum
The fife and drum corps performed at the ceremony.
fife player
The fife player stood at the front of the marching band.

Synonyms and how they differ

flute
A flute is larger and lower in pitch; a fife is smaller, higher, and often used outdoors or in marching.
piccolo
A piccolo is also high-pitched but is a concert instrument; a fife is simpler and traditionally military.

Word family

fifer noun
A person who plays the fife.

Commonly confused: fife or fife?

fife vs fife

Not to be confused with 'Fife', a region in Scotland, which is a proper noun.

Practice

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