cho·re·og·ra·phy
ˌkȯr-ē-ˈä-grə-fē
plural choreographies
1
: the art of symbolically representing dancing
2
a
: the composition and arrangement of dances especially for ballet
b
: a composition created by this art
3
: something resembling choreography
… a snail-paced choreography of delicate high diplomacy …—Wolfgang Saxon
cho·reo·graph·ic
¦kȯr-ē-ə-¦gra-fik
variants
or less commonly choreographical
¦kȯr-ē-ə-¦gra-fi-kəl
: of, belonging to, or concerned with choreography
Did you know?
In ancient Greece, a choreia was a circular dance accompanied by a singing chorus. But the actual notating of dances by means of symbols didn't begin until the 17th or 18th century, when ballet developed into a complex art form in France. The choreographer of a major ballet, which might run to an hour or more, will always record his or her work in notation, though choreographing a five-minute segment for a TV talent show usually doesn't require any record at all.
Cite this Entry
“Choreography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choreography. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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