choreography

noun

cho·​re·​og·​ra·​phy ˌkȯr-ē-ˈä-grə-fē 

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 diplomacy …

—Wolfgang Saxon

choreographic

ˌkȯr-ē-ə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

choreographically

ˌkȯr-ē-ə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

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

And the choreography by La La Land’s Mandy Moore (no, not her) keeps bodies flowing through space like pulsing blood. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

The spectacle took home a total of seven wins, including musical direction, choreography, sound mixing, lighting design, technical direction/camerawork and directing. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Prum and West were soon joined by Molly Ross, who would be accompanying Prum in rehearsing West’s choreography. — Nolan Kelly, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026

Silver Star does not ask Defendants to change their setlist, narrative, politics, choreography, or even their decision to put gun-toting performers on stage. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for choreography

• arthrography
• biography
• cartography
• cosmography
• cryptography
• demography
• discography
• echography
• ethnography
• filmography
• geography
• hydrography

Kids Definition

choreography

noun

cho·​re·​og·​ra·​phy ˌkōr-ē-ˈäg-rə-fē 

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