libretto

noun

li·​bret·​to lə-ˈbre-(ˌ)tō 

plural librettos or libretti lə-ˈbre-(ˌ)tē 

1

: the text of a work (such as an opera) for the musical theater

2

: the book containing a libretto

Examples of libretto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The superb libretto by Simon Robson (based on a scenario by Braham Murray) is a clever series of short flashbacks of Schoenberg’s life, with film accompaniment. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025

But with opera, the libretto often leads in a completely different direction. —Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

But the good news for the common listener is that as albums with librettos go, this one is surprisingly easy to bang your way through — sort of like a Guided by Voices LP expanded to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway scale. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025

Gene and Jake have done a masterful job whittling down the behemoth that is Moby into a tight, gripping libretto and score. —Shivani Vora, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of libro book, from Latin libr-, liber

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for libretto

• hereto
• magneto
• palmetto
• stiletto
• whereto
• allegretto
• lazaretto
• ghetto
• seto

Kids Definition

libretto

noun

li·​bret·​to lə-ˈbret-ō 

plural librettos or libretti -ē 

: the text of an opera or musical