assemblage

noun

as·​sem·​blage ə-ˈsem-blij 

for sense 3 also ˌa-ˌsäm-ˈbläzh

1

: a collection of persons or things : gathering

2

: the act of assembling : the state of being assembled

3

a

: an artistic composition made from scraps, junk, and odds and ends (as of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or metal)

b

: the art of making assemblages

Synonyms of assemblage

• assembly
• conference
• gathering
• meeting

Examples of assemblage in a Sentence

an assemblage of onlookers at the construction site

tried to sort through the assemblage of ripped wrapping paper and boxes for the missing toy

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, the Smithsonian Institution, which draws some 15 million visitors every year to its assemblage of 21 museums — bounty that has no real global peer — has managed to stay mostly above the political fray. — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026

There’s the largest assemblage of Lichtenstein mirror works ever installed together in a museum context, and a complete re-creation of his first Pop art show at Leo Castelli’s gallery uptown. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026

Atlanta architect Keith Summerour and his family are selling the assemblage of land and historic 19th century buildings, such as an old cotton gin. — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Unlike a polished piece of metal which is reflective and the same material from every direction, a second surface mirror is an assemblage, has a transparent layer, a reflective layer, and an opaque layer. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, from assembler "to bring together, assemble" + -age -age

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

assemblage

noun

as·​sem·​blage ə-ˈsem-blij 

for 3 also ˌas-ˌäm-ˈbläzh

1

: a collection or gathering of persons or things

2

: the act of assembling

3

: an artistic composition made by putting together scraps or junk