repertoire

noun

rep·​er·​toire ˈre-pər-ˌtwär How to pronounce repertoire (audio)
ˈre-pə-
1
a
: a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform
b
: a supply of skills, devices, or expedients
part of the repertoire of a quarterback
broadly : amount, supply
an endless repertoire of summer clothes
c
: a list or supply of capabilities
the instruction repertoire of a computer
2
a
: the complete list or supply of dramas, operas, or musical works available for performance
our modern orchestral repertoire
b
: the complete list or supply of skills, devices, or ingredients used in a particular field, occupation, or practice
the repertoire of literary criticism

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Add This Word History to Your Repertoire

The Late Latin noun repertorium, meaning "list," has given us two words that can be used to speak of the broad range of things that someone or something can do. One is repertory, perhaps most commonly known as a word for a company that presents several different plays, operas, or other works at one theater, or the theater where such works are performed. Repertoire, which comes from repertorium via French, once meant the same thing as repertory but later came to refer to the range of skills that a person has, such as the different pitches a baseball pitcher can throw or the particular dishes that are a chef's specialty.

Examples of repertoire in a Sentence

In later years, he sang in English and expanded his repertoire to include rhythm and blues, rock and even skiffle music. John Swenson, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 1993
Jackson is best known for a career that included radio and television concerts and a repertoire that leaned heavily upon songs such as "Amazing Grace" and "The Day is Past and Gone." Leslie Williams, (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, 12 May 1993
Like resident stock companies, they presented a number of plays in repertoire; the genre of the programs tended to vary, although there seemed to be a preference for popular melodramas … George Mann, Theatre Lethbridge, 1993
Grenadine … is bright red in color and has a sweet, fresh flavor. It is completely non-alcoholic, but plays an essential part in any good barman's repertoire. The Encyclopedia of Herbs, Spices, & Flavorings, 1992
The fiery orators taking their turn at the microphone wore work shirts and overalls. The college choir sang a repertoire of early Joan Baez. John Krich, Music in Every Room, 1984
The band's repertoire includes both classic and modern jazz. He has a limited repertoire when it comes to cooking.
Recent Examples on the Web Other regional flavors — sugarcane juice, jams made from the endemic tree tomato — are increasingly part of the lodge’s culinary repertoire. Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2024 But American audiences have impressed England’s repertoire queen. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 27 Sep. 2024 Now is the time to adjust your team, adjust your expectations, and incorporate these powerful tools into your repertoire. Allbusiness, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 Having a sharp, high-quality chef’s knife, santoku knife, and paring knife will set you up for success in the kitchen, even if your culinary repertoire is limited to pasta and avocado toast. Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repertoire 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repertoire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French répertoire, from Late Latin repertorium — see repertory

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of repertoire was in 1819

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Cite this Entry

“Repertoire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repertoire. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

repertoire

noun
rep·​er·​toire ˈrep-ə(r)-ˌtwär How to pronounce repertoire (audio)
1
: a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform
2
: a supply of skills or devices possessed by a person
passing is part of the repertoire of a quarterback

More from Merriam-Webster on repertoire

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