Composition — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən/ com·po·si·tion

Meaning & Definition of Composition

Composition (noun)

  1. the act or process of composing; specifically, arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form
  2. the arrangement of type for printing
  3. the production of type or typographic characters (as in photocomposition) arranged for printing

Composition (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a literary, musical, or artistic production

    "the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David"

    similar: number, opus, piece, work
    related: classic, magnum opus, masterpiece, pièce de résistance, showpiece, model, outline, sketch, étude, canon, corpus, oeuvre

  2. a short piece of writing done as a school exercise

    "a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions"

    similar: paper, theme
    related: article, essay, story

  3. the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged

    "student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images"

    similar: arrangement, configuration, constellation, design, form, format, getup, layout, makeup, ordonnance, pattern
    related: motif, theme

  4. a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view

    "submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day"

    similar: article, essay, paper, theme
    related: causerie, column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up, dissertation, thesis, tract, treatise, discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon, study

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Composition

The most common words with a similar meaning to Composition:

number, opus, piece, work, paper, theme, arrangement, configuration, constellation, design, form, format, getup, layout, makeup, ordonnance, pattern, article, essay

Related Words for Composition

classic, magnum opus, masterpiece, pièce de résistance, showpiece, model, outline, sketch, étude, canon, corpus, oeuvre, story, motif, causerie, column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up, dissertation, thesis, tract, treatise, discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon

Word Forms of Composition

Derived words: compositional (adjective), compositionally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Composition

Middle English composicioun, from Anglo-French composicion, from Latin composition-, compositio, from componere see compose

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Composition

Frequently Asked Questions about Composition

What does "Composition" mean?

"Composition" means the act or process of composing; specifically, arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process of composing; specifically, arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Composition"?

Other words for "Composition" include number, opus, piece, work, paper, theme, arrangement and configuration. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Composition" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Composition"?

There are 50 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Composition". Common alternatives include number, opus, piece, work, paper, theme, arrangement, configuration, constellation and design.

How do you use "Composition" in a sentence?

Examples of "Composition" in a sentence: "the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David"; "a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions"; "student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images".

Is "Composition" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Composition" is a noun.

Is "Composition" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Composition" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Composition"?

"Composition" is pronounced /ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən/ and divided into syllables as com·po·si·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Composition"?

"Composition" comes from Middle English composicioun, from Anglo-French composicion, from Latin composition-, compositio, from componere see compose. First known use: 14th century.