gamelan

noun

gam·​elan ˈga-mə-ˌlan How to pronounce gamelan (audio)
-ˌlän
: an Indonesian orchestra made up especially of percussion instruments (such as gongs, xylophones, and drums)

Examples of gamelan 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.
Dja Dja comprises 14 songs of polyphonic glitz, MIDI fugues, and Balinese gamelan to form an epic suite spanning ancient timbres and hectic sound design, pure pop and a beguiling avant-garde. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 There are Indian ragas, Middle Eastern maqams, Indonesian gamelan, Japanese koto, West African kora, and Central African balafon. — Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 July 2026 One of the younger cousins tells me about her gamelan lessons. — Literary Hub, 22 May 2026 The meal was made more captivating by traditional Balinese entertainment, which included dance practice for young local girls, their instructor, and a small gamelan orchestra. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gamelan

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Javanese, going back to Old Javanese gamĕlan "percussion instrument, ensemble of percussion instruments," from gamĕl- "playing of a percussion instrument" + -an, noun-forming suffix

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamelan was in 1816

Browse Nearby Words

gamekeeper
gamelan
Gamelin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gamelan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamelan. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gamelan

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gamelan

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