choir

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwī(-ə)r 

1

: an organized company of singers (as in a church service)

… greeted by a large male choir wearing red bowties and singing carols.

—New Yorker

2

: a group of instruments of the same class

a brass choir

3

: an organized group of persons or things

… travels with a suite of assistants and a choir of publicists.

—L. R. Lapham

4

: a division of angels

5

: the part of a church occupied by the singers or by the clergy

also : the part of a church where the services are performed

6

: a group organized for ensemble speaking

choir

2 of 2

verb

choired; choiring; choirs

intransitive verb

: to sing or sound in chorus or concert

The woodwinds choired eloquently.

Synonyms of choir

Noun

• chorus

Examples of choir in a Sentence

Noun

joined the choir for next year

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many of those at the Mass had been in place for hours to secure a spot for the vibrant liturgy interspersed with music from a local choir. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026

Marshall, a Carmel Valley local and Canyon Crest Academy alum, directs the parish choir, young adult choir, children’s choir and youth schola. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Octet is a chamber-choir musical about eight people in a support group for internet addiction. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026

Kilroy said he isn't formally trained in music, but he was exposed to the arts from an early age and briefly sang in a chamber choir in college. —ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English quer, from Anglo-French queor, from Medieval Latin chorus, from Latin, chorus — more at chorus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing choir

• choir loft
• preach to the choir

Rhymes for choir

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

choir

noun

ˈkwī(-ə)r

1

: an organized group of singers especially in a church

2

: the part of a church where the choir sits