chordophone

This term is a technical classification used primarily in ethnomusicology and organology to categorize instruments. It focuses on the physical mechanism of sound production—the vibrating string—rather than the method of activation, meaning it encompasses everything from plucked harps and bowed cellos to struck pianos.

Because it is a scientific descriptor, it is rarely used in casual conversation, where more specific terms like string instrument are preferred. It carries a formal, academic tone and is typically found in museum catalogs, music theory textbooks, or anthropological studies.