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

• impromptu
• improv

Examples of improvisation in a Sentence

that comedy skit was a totally unrehearsed improvisation

Recent Examples on the Web

The Zoolander star and Severance boss explores how Jerry Stiller and Meara as a comedy powerhouse duo managed to raise a showbiz family as the lines between their creativity and improvisation on stage and at home constantly blurred. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025

Her education was a synthesis of Classical and Romantic, with the Scottish grounding in logic, reason and intellectual persuasion given a fillip by the improvisations of Miss Christina Kay. —Frances Wilson september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025

Project participants worked in acrylic paint, and Follett — who designed the mural using digital mockups and pencil drawings oversaw its execution — welcomed improvisation. —Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

If the first volume was a statement of intent, this second issue feels like an improvisation. —Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 16 Sep. 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