choreography

noun

cho·​re·​og·​ra·​phy ˌkȯr-ē-ˈä-grə-fē How to pronounce choreography (audio)
plural choreographies
1
: the art of symbolically representing dancing
2
a
: the composition and arrangement of dances especially for ballet
b
: a composition created by this art
3
: something resembling choreography
a snail-paced choreography of delicate high diplomacyWolfgang Saxon
choreographic adjective
choreographically adverb

Did you know?

In ancient Greece, a choreia was a circular dance accompanied by a singing chorus. But the actual notating of dances by means of symbols didn't begin until the 17th or 18th century, when ballet developed into a complex art form in France. The choreographer of a major ballet, which might run to an hour or more, will always record his or her work in notation, though choreographing a five-minute segment for a TV talent show usually doesn't require any record at all.

Examples of choreography in a Sentence

He has an interest in choreography. a show with excellent choreography
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.
Notably, Charm La Donna is nominated for her choreography work in both Beyoncé Bowl and Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 15 July 2025 The lighting and effects were solid, the occasional narration was intriguing (and prompted crowd chanting!), and the choreography and theater of it all made for a fully engrossing experience. jsonline.com, 5 July 2025 But when that choreography finally arrived, Madi was in Georgia for a funeral, practicing alone in her hotel room and sending videos back to Samu’s sisters for feedback. Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 July 2025 Between aquatic choreography and sculptural silhouettes, the presentation danced between artistic performance and fashion statement. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for choreography

Word History

Etymology

French chorégraphie, from Greek choreia + French -graphie -graphy

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of choreography was circa 1789

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Choreography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choreography. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

choreography

noun
cho·​re·​og·​ra·​phy ˌkōr-ē-ˈäg-rə-fē How to pronounce choreography (audio)
ˌkȯr-
: the art of arranging dances especially for ballet
choreograph
ˈkōr-ē-ə-ˌgraf
ˈkȯr-
verb
choreographer
ˌkōr-ē-ˈäg-rə-fər
ˌkȯr-
noun
choreographic
-ē-ə-ˈgraf-ik
adjective

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