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 of assemblage

• 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

The Elodea cells were small enough for the particular assemblage of chloroplasts within to pack themselves tightly to absorb maximum light, and large enough for chloroplasts to maneuver around one another to avoid it when needed. —Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026

Founded in 1985, this group of seven savvy string pluckers is the world’s first such assemblage and has been the inspiration for all manner of copycat ensembles ever since. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

But because the field has long existed slightly under the radar, many artists have been free to develop innovative approaches—such as fabric manipulation or, in my case, fabric assemblage. —Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026

Across town at MoCA is another of the exhibition’s defining works, Abigail DeVille’s conceptually taut assemblage Deo Vindice (Orion’s Cabinet), 2025. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026

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