composition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce composition (audio)
Definition of compositionnext
1
as in piece
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David

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2
as in paper
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions

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3
as in layout
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images

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4
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of composition High-quality protein supports collagen synthesis, muscle maintenance, and recovery—factors that influence how skin, hair, and body composition respond over time. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This growing gap between public preference and the composition of Congress has prompted a retired senator, Joe Manchin, and his daughter Heather to launch an initiative to spur more election bids by candidates not tied to a party. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 The composition courses would be for seniors, according to Thomas Skobel, the East Aurora High School’s division chair for English and fine arts, while the speech course would be open to juniors and seniors. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026 The history of the ocean temperature is embedded in the chemical composition of the skeleton itself. — Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for composition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composition
  1. piece
  2. paper
  3. layout
  4. article
  5. work
  6. essay
  7. design
  8. masterpiece
Noun
  • The Rwanda project offered an opportunity to assess what this simple piece of infrastructure might be able to accomplish.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Simply put, this breezy cottagecore piece adds a touch of fairytale-like magic to your day.
    — Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of piece
Noun
  • The profit figure was driven by a massive paper gain in the company's strategic investment portfolio, which includes a stake in Anthropic.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The senators cited a fall 2025 UC San Diego faculty work group paper that found about 1 in 12 incoming UCSD freshmen were testing below high school math standards, a share that the report said grew nearly thirtyfold since 2020.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of paper
Noun
  • The curriculum prepares students for future education and careers in creative industries, requiring them to analyze, design and render complex graphics, package design, typography, layouts, corporate brand identities and web interfaces.
    — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Once the design of the new layout is complete, a spokesperson for the transportation department said, crews will begin taking out the current striping before laying out the new lane configurations.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of layout
Noun
  • Much of the content generated promoted an organization called the International Burke Institute (IBI), the website of which features articles copied from real academic writing, sometimes with false attribution.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This article originally ran on November 25, 2019, and is being republished in light of the news of Dolly Parton’s death.
    — Becca James, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of article
Noun
  • Users reported problems with Outlook, while OpenAI said users may experience problems starting or continuing tasks in ChatGPT Work, temporarily disabling two of the modern office's favorite methods of assigning more work.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A vague request could create an impressive amount of unnecessary work today.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • Watson went on to create Our Shared Shelf in 2016, a feminist book club that focused on discussing books and essays about gender equality.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Following his 2019 essay for the New Yorker, Murakami recounts a compelling history of fatherhood, family and obligation, transforming an uncanny childhood memory into a deeply personal history.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of essay
Noun
  • If the show is now being repositioned as just for people who are fresh out of design school or who have made just one or two gowns before (like, cough, our beloved Jude), then say that.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Companies typically pass on at least some of those increases to workers, either through higher premium contributions or plan-design changes, such as larger deductibles or copays.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of design
Noun
  • Those songs and more were performed during his set by an ace band that included two drummers, whose polyrhythmic beat recalled the Burundi-like drumming of Ant’s 1980 masterpiece Kings of the Wild Frontier.
    — David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Peninsula Grill‘s late chef and owner Robert Carter took his grandmother’s coconut cake and turned it into a masterpiece.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of masterpiece

Browse Nearby Words

compositing
composition
compositions
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Cite this Entry

“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composition. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on composition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about composition

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