INSTRUMENTAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does instrumental mean? 

• INSTRUMENTAL (adjective)
  The adjective INSTRUMENTAL has 2 senses:

1. relating to or designed for or performed on musical instruments

2. serving or acting as a means or aid

  Familiarity information: INSTRUMENTAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INSTRUMENTAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or designed for or performed on musical instruments

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

an instrumental ensemble

Antonym:

vocal (relating to or designed for or using the singing voice)

Pertainym:

musical instrument (any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds)

Derivation:

instrument (any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Serving or acting as a means or aid

Synonyms:

implemental; instrumental; subservient

Context example:

instrumental in solving the crime

Similar:

helpful (providing assistance or serving a useful function)

Derivation:

instrument (the means whereby some act is accomplished)

instrumentality (an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end)

instrumentality (the quality of being instrumental for some purpose)

 Context examples 

The patients were stimulated with instrumental music by pop singers Adele and Enya.

(Music believed to boost hypertension treatment, Agenciabrasil/EBC)

The patients were stimulated with instrumental music by pop singers Adele and Enya.

(Music believed to boost hypertension treatment, Agência Brasil/EBC)

He was challenging my manhood with his slurs, challenging the very legs he claimed to be instrumental in getting for me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A treatment procedure performed by manual and/or instrumental means, for example: surgery, lithotripsy, or external manipulation.

(Physical Medical Procedure, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The questionnaire contains 40 items across 3 domains; basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and leisure activities.

(Disability Assessment for Dementia Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

A set of manual or instrumental activities that are intended to treat a health problem in order to achieve a positive result.

(Physical Medical Procedure, NCI Thesaurus)

Nurse executives are registered nurses who are instrumental in the design, facilitation, and management of patient care in their respective organizations.

(Nurse Administrator, NCI Thesaurus)

A standardized questionnaire developed by Pfeiffer et al in 1982, which is used to measure instrumental activities of daily living such as preparing meals and managing personal finances in older adults with dementia.

(Functional Activities Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

This open, accessible configuration surrounding the switches that control cytokine genes may be instrumental in enabling ILCs to rapidly launch an assault upon infection.

(Rapid-response immune cells are fully prepared before invasion strikes, NIH)

A friend seems to want to go out of his or her way on your behalf and be instrumental in creating your dazzling good fortune.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)