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

• 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

One assemblage features a broken television set balanced on a dirty rolling chair. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 23 June 2025

Many of those residents were artists and musicians, including the famed assemblage artist and former director of the Watts Towers Arts Center, John Outterbridge, whose home and studio burned in the fire. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

The most comprehensive solo museum exhibition to date for the artist, approximately 50 works from 1959 to 1999–paintings, sculptures, etchings, drawings, assemblages, and musical compositions–are brought together. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

At 9 Chapel, a narrow, wavy condo tower designed by SO-IL, a monochromatic assemblage of furniture and wall pieces took over the ground floor as part of a show curated by Verso, a New York design gallery. —Curbed Editors, Curbed, 5 June 2025

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