shamisen

noun

sham·​i·​sen ˈsha-mə-ˌsen How to pronounce shamisen (audio)
variants or less commonly samisen
ˈsa-mə-ˌsen How to pronounce shamisen (audio)
: a 3-stringed Japanese musical instrument resembling a banjo

Examples of shamisen 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.
Anju Madoka will perform on the shamisen — a three-stringed Japanese instrument — and sing and explain traditional Japanese folk songs. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment. — Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shamisen was in 1864

Rhymes for shamisen

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Cite this Entry

“Shamisen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shamisen. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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