improvisation

noun

im·​pro·​vi·​sa·​tion (ˌ)im-ˌprä-və-ˈzā-shən 

ˌim-prə-və-

also ˌim-prə-(ˌ)vī-

1

: the act or art of improvising

2

: something (such as a musical or dramatic composition) improvised

improvisational

(ˌ)im-ˌprä-və-ˈzā-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌim-prə-və-

also ˌim-prə-(ˌ)vī-

adjective

improvisationally adverb

Synonyms of improvisation

• impromptu
• improv

Examples of improvisation in a Sentence

that comedy skit was a totally unrehearsed improvisation

Recent Examples on the Web

But drag is messy and pushed me toward improvisation. —Gabe Montesanti, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026

Dubois is also a professor of organ interpretation and improvisation at the Hochschule University of Music in Germany. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

There always has been, and still is, a healthy amount of improvisation built into the musical’s book, which keeps both audience and actors on their toes. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026

Snipped bits of studio improvisations and artifacts of chance collisions with other artists who happened to be in the room—a baritone guitar loop from the band, a trap 808 from a producer just passing through—form the shifting foundation for Vernon’s unmistakable voice. —Mitch Therieau, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for improvisation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

improvisation

noun

im·​pro·​vi·​sa·​tion (ˌ)im-ˌpräv-ə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌim-prə-və-

1

: the act or art of improvising

2

: something that is improvised

improvisational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective