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

Skillful at improvisation and working the crowd, Mulrooney told jokes on HBO, Showtime and on the PBS show Comedy Tonight and was among those who stepped in for Joan Rivers after she was fired as host of Fox’s The Late Show in 1987. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026

Waiting in the greenroom was Robert Alan York, a veteran organist who studied classical repertory and improvisation in Paris and also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the American songbook. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Was there a lot of improvisation? —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025

His approach to peacemaking has suffered from an improbable degree of improvisation, exclusion of regional expertise, and consequentially, shallowness and flights of fancy. —Sergey Radchenko, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025

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