plural tableaux
ˈta-ˌblōz 
ta-ˈblōz
also tableaus
1
: a graphic description or representation : picture
winsome tableaux of old-fashioned literary days—
J. D. Hart
J. D. Hart2
: a striking or artistic grouping : arrangement, scene
3
[short for tableau vivant (from French, literally, living picture)]
: a depiction of a scene usually presented on a stage by silent and motionless costumed participants
Examples of tableau in a Sentence
The houses are grouped together in a charming tableau.
Recent Examples on the Web
For our cover image, the artist Joe McKendry painted a tableau of figures drawn from the stories in the issue.
—Peter Mendelsund, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Use a black paint pen to freehand or stencil your house numbers on a simple white pumpkin, then surround it with additional pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and plenty of colorful fall blooms for a charming tableau.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
At Wembley the previous March, Newcastle fans had won the weekend in London, turning Trafalgar Square into a boozy tableau of black-and-white mayhem, but the team had scarcely turned up for their Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The latter inspired the presentation setting, a reproduction of different vignettes and tableau vivants scattered across the rooms of the restaurant, while the pattern decked many of the spring lineup’s new addition.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tableau
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Peter Mendelsund, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Use a black paint pen to freehand or stencil your house numbers on a simple white pumpkin, then surround it with additional pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and plenty of colorful fall blooms for a charming tableau.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
At Wembley the previous March, Newcastle fans had won the weekend in London, turning Trafalgar Square into a boozy tableau of black-and-white mayhem, but the team had scarcely turned up for their Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The latter inspired the presentation setting, a reproduction of different vignettes and tableau vivants scattered across the rooms of the restaurant, while the pattern decked many of the spring lineup’s new addition.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tableau
Cite this Entry
“Tableau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tableau. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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