ensemble

1 of 2

noun

en·​sem·​ble än-ˈsäm-bəl 

äⁿ-

: a group producing a single effect: such as

a

: concerted music of two or more parts

b

: a complete costume of harmonizing or complementary clothing and accessories

c(1)

: the musicians engaged in the performance of a musical ensemble

(2)

: a group of supporting players, singers, or dancers

especially : corps de ballet

ensemble

2 of 2

adjective

: emphasizing the roles of all performers as a whole rather than a star performance

ensemble acting

Examples of ensemble in a Sentence

Noun

We went to listen to a new jazz ensemble.

She wore an elegant three-piece ensemble.

The actor performed an ensemble piece.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The ensemble also includes Hong Kong screen icon Carina Lau, Japanese star Takeru Satoh, Sisley Choi, Louis Cheung, Yang and Jin. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

The shoot couldn’t run in sequence and was organized by location instead, so Patil tracked her own makeup, hair, body and voice continuity across Selvi’s decline, leaning on continuity photos and long rehearsals with the ensemble. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Dyrholm’s casting in Incidents of Intimacy marks a homecoming for the Danish actress who was part of the ensemble cast in Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes Jury Prize winner The Celebration, the first film to be made under the original manifesto. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

The Calvin Klein ensemble, designed by creative director Veronica Leoni, made its runway debut during New York Fashion Week last September. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, "unity, cohesion, group, set, musical ensemble, outfit," noun derivative of ensemble "together, at the same time," going back to Old French, "with one another," going back to Vulgar Latin *insemul, reshaping of Latin insimul "in company, together," from in- in- entry 2 + simul "together, at the same time" — more at simultaneous

Note: The form *semul may represent an older form of simul preserved in popular Latin; see note at similar.

Adjective

from attributive use of ensemble entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1750, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ensemble

noun

en·​sem·​ble

än-ˈsäm-bəl

: a group of people or things making up a complete unit: as

a

: musicians that perform music in several parts

also : the music itself

b

: a set of clothes that look nice together

Etymology

Noun

from French ensemble "group, ensemble," from ensemble (adverb) "together," from Latin insimul (same meaning), from in- "in, into" and simul "at the same time, together" — related to assemble, simultaneous