percussion

noun

per·​cus·​sion pər-ˈkə-shən How to pronounce percussion (audio)
1
: the act of percussing: such as
a
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
b
: the beating or striking of a musical instrument
c
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
2
: the striking of sound on the ear
3
: percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra
percussion adjective

Examples of percussion in a Sentence

He plays percussion for the band. The marimba is a percussion instrument.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The color is red velvet; the sound brims with sickly pulses and crocodile-teeth percussion; the playwright is a cross between Charlie Kaufman and Muse. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026 The solid bass response combined with the wide soundstage made for an excellent listening experience, with Callahan's deep baritone vocal coming through very well, along with crisp high-end percussion. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026 In addition to lead vocals, Gosling played piano, guitar, synthesizer, percussion, cello and bass on that album. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026 But Anderson’s low, forceful vocals and the in-your-face percussion were up to the task, arguably making his version the best of the lot. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for percussion

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French percussioun, from Latin percussion-, percussio, from percutere to beat, from per- thoroughly + quatere to shake

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of percussion was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing percussion

Rhymes for percussion

See All Rhymes for percussion

Browse Nearby Words

percuss
percussion
percussional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Percussion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussion. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

percussion

noun
per·​cus·​sion pər-ˈkəsh-ən How to pronounce percussion (audio)
1
: the act of tapping sharply
especially : the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
2
: the striking of sound sharply on the ear

Medical Definition

percussion

noun
per·​cus·​sion pər-ˈkəsh-ən How to pronounce percussion (audio)
1
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resulting sound
2
: massage consisting of the striking of a body part with light rapid blows

called also tapotement

More from Merriam-Webster on percussion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about percussion

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