pianoforte

noun

pi·​ano·​forte pē-ˈa-nə-ˌfȯrt How to pronounce pianoforte (audio)
-ˈä-, 
-ˌfȯr-tē How to pronounce pianoforte (audio)
-ˌa-nə-ˈfȯr-tē, 
-ˌä-
1
: fortepiano
2
: piano

Examples of pianoforte in a Sentence

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.
From the pianoforte to the smartphone, each wave of tech has sparked fears of brain rot. — Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025 Cher owns autotune like Franz Liszt owned the pianoforte, and everyone knows it. — Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 20 May 2025 Georgiana in her multifarious endeavors of both the pianoforte and the heart. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022 While cleaning the basement one day, Teresa discovers a pianoforte that had been given to Sant’Ignazio by a donor, a gift specifically for the women of the institute. — Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The chronic daydreamer can easily identify with Catherine’s near-delusional longing for something to happen beyond the courtships and evenings around the pianoforte that seem to make up the better part of her future. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026 Mysterious and quieter than her loud siblings, the sixth Bridgerton child has been largely absent from the first two seasons, having left London to practice pianoforte with their Aunt Winnie during season 1. — Charlotte Walsh, Peoplemag, 3 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Italian

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pianoforte was in 1741

Rhymes for pianoforte

See All Rhymes for pianoforte

Browse Nearby Words

piano bar
pianoforte
pianofortist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pianoforte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pianoforte. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pianoforte

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pianoforte

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