proscenium

noun

pro·​sce·​ni·​um prō-ˈsē-nē-əm 

1

a

: the stage of an ancient Greek or Roman theater

b

: the part of a modern stage in front of the curtain

c

: the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium and provides the arch that frames it

2

a

: foreground sense 1

b

: foreground sense 2

Examples of proscenium in a Sentence

The host walked onto the proscenium.

Recent Examples on the Web

The brand discipline is punishing; in David Rockwell’s scenic design, even the proscenium has spit curls. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

The production uses the same set designer as in Denver, Brian Sidney Bembridge, but the art gallery setting and the play’s blocking have had to be revised considerably since the Denver Center has a shallow proscenium and Hartford Stage has a deep thrust stage as well as a larger auditorium. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025

The proscenium performance space is less conducive to circular dance cyphers. —Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025

Those clips are projected on various screens around designer Scott Pask’s atmospheric CBS studio set, along with ‘50s-style black-and-white televisions that flank the Winter Garden Theatre’s wide proscenium. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek proskēnion front of the building forming the background for a dramatic performance, stage, from pro- + skēnē building forming the background for a dramatic performance — more at scene

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing proscenium

• proscenium arch

Rhymes for proscenium

• asplenium
• delphinium
• perineum
• ruthenium
• selenium
• vaccinium
• rhenium

Kids Definition

proscenium

noun

pro·​sce·​ni·​um prō-ˈsē-nē-əm 

1

: the part of a stage in front of the curtain

2

: the wall containing the arch that frames the stage