vocalist
gb/vˈoʊkəlɪst/ us/vˈoʊkəlɪst/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
singer in a band or group
A singer, often in a band.
Usage pattern:
the vocalist (of/for) [band/group]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse vocalist (a noun) with vocal (an adjective meaning “using the voice” or “speaking a lot”).
Synonyms
singer (More general and more common; not limited to bands.)
|
frontman (Often implies the band’s public leader, not only the singing role.)
Antonyms
instrumentalist (A performer who plays an instrument rather than singing.)
Collocations
lead vocalist
|the band's vocalist
|a new vocalist
|female vocalist
|male vocalist
|vocalist and guitarist
|replace the vocalist
|hire a vocalist
|vocalist auditions
|a vocalist on tour
Themes
music
|entertainment
|performing_arts
Examples
- The band just announced a new vocalist for their next tour.
- She started as a guitarist but later became the group's vocalist.
- Their vocalist has a powerful voice live.
Learner examples
- He is the vocalist in my favorite band.
- They are looking for a new vocalist.
Noun
B2
role
2
singer as a type of performer
A person who sings.
Usage pattern:
[vocalist(s)] and [instrumentalist(s)]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse vocalist in casual conversation where singer is more natural.
Synonyms
singer (The everyday word for someone who sings.)
|
vocal performer (Slightly more formal; often used in music programs or education.)
Antonyms
instrumentalist (Contrasts with a performer who primarily plays an instrument.)
Collocations
jazz vocalist
|classical vocalist
|a trained vocalist
|professional vocalist
|solo vocalist
|up-and-coming vocalist
|vocalists and instrumentalists
|vocalist competition
|vocalist training
|a vocalist's range
Themes
music
|performing_arts
|education
Examples
- The festival features vocalists as well as instrumentalists from around the world.
- She’s a jazz vocalist known for her improvisation.
- Auditions are open to vocalists of all styles.
Learner examples
- My sister is a vocalist in a choir.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vocalist
IPA
GB/vˈoʊkəlɪst/
US/vˈoʊkəlɪst/
Syllables & stress
vo - cal - ist (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vo)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vocalist
- Plural: vocalists
Expressions
backing vocalist
1/bˈækɪŋ vˈoʊkəlɪst/
fixed phrase
supporting singer with harmonies
A singer who sings in the background to support the main singer.
Examples
- Two backing vocalists joined her on stage for the chorus.
- He started his career as a backing vocalist before going solo.
- The backing vocalists added rich harmonies to the live show.
featured vocalist
1/fˈit͡ʃɚd vˈoʊkəlɪst/
fixed phrase
singer prominently credited on track
A singer who is specially shown in the credits for a song.
Examples
- The single lists her as the featured vocalist.
- He appears as the featured vocalist on two tracks.
- The DJ worked with a different featured vocalist for each remix.
guest vocalist
1/ɡˈɛst vˈoʊkəlɪst/
fixed phrase
invited singer for one performance
A singer who joins for one song or show.
Examples
- The track features a guest vocalist from another band.
- They brought in a guest vocalist for the final song of the set.
- A guest vocalist will join the orchestra for the encore.
lead vocalist
1/lˈid vˈoʊkəlɪst/
fixed phrase
main singer in a group
The main singer in a band.
Examples
- Their lead vocalist left after the second album.
- She became the lead vocalist when the previous singer retired.
- The lead vocalist introduced the next song to the crowd.
session vocalist
1/sˈɛʃən vˈoʊkəlɪst/
fixed phrase
hired singer for recordings
A professional singer hired for studio recording.
Examples
- They hired a session vocalist to record the chorus.
- As a session vocalist, she works on a wide range of projects.
- The producer brought in a session vocalist at the last minute.