Meaning & use
lutists
Last updated
“lutists” is a form of “lutist”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
People who play the lute, an old stringed instrument with a rounded body.
Grammar: Countable noun; the singular is 'lutist'. Use it for more than one player.
Patterns
- a group of lutists
- the lutists in the orchestra
The concert featured three lutists from the early music ensemble.
In the 17th century, lutists were highly respected court musicians.
She studied with one of the finest lutists in Europe.
Word forms
| singular | lutist |
|---|
Common combinations
- skilled lutist
- He is a skilled lutist who performs with several Baroque groups.
- renaissance lutist
- The painting shows a Renaissance lutist playing for a noble family.
- lutist and composer
- Silvius Leopold Weiss was a famous lutist and composer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lute player
- This is the everyday term; 'lutist' is more formal and much rarer.
- lutenist
- This is a common variant spelling of the same word, especially in British English.
Word family
Commonly confused: lutists or flutist?
lutists vs flutist
A flutist plays the flute, a woodwind instrument, while a lutist plays the lute, a stringed instrument.
Practice
The early music festival attracted lutists from across Europe. What does 'lutists' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Lutists' are players of the lute, not makers, teachers, or sellers. The suffix -ist usually indicates a person who plays or practices something, as in 'pianist' or 'violinist'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lutists”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.