cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈli-grə-fē 
1
a
: artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering
b
: the art of producing such writing
2
3
: an ornamental line in drawing or painting
cal·li·graph·ic
¦ka-lə-¦gra-fik
1
: of or relating to calligraphy: such as
a
of writing or hand-lettering
: elaborate or ornamental in style
b
of a document
: written by hand especially in an elaborate or ornamental style
2
a
: consisting of or ornamented with lines resembling the flourishes of ornate or decorated handwriting or hand-lettering
calligraphic scrolls
a calligraphic figure
b
: printed, engraved, or otherwise produced in a style imitative of ornamental handwriting, hand-lettering, or freehand drawing
a printed calligraphic title
engraved calligraphic ornament
c
: bearing writing or a representation of writing that is regarded as being in itself a source of aesthetic pleasure
—used especially of works of art displaying Chinese characters or one of the ornamental types of Arabic script
3
: drawn, painted, or formed in the manner of calligraphy (see calligraphy sense 3)
a wiry arabesque of swift calligraphic line—
Eric Newton
Eric Newton
Did you know?
Kalli- is a Greek root meaning "beautiful", and "beautiful" in the case of calligraphy means artistic, stylized, and elegant. Calligraphy has existed in many cultures, including Indian, Persian, and Islamic cultures; Arabic puts a particularly high value on beautiful script, and in East Asia calligraphy has long been considered a major art. Calligraphers in the West use pens with wide nibs, with which they produce strokes of widely differing width within a single letter.
Examples of calligraphy in a Sentence
Noun
she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
As preschoolers dance, paint and play inside a Sunset Park daycare center, seniors sing traditional Chinese opera, exercise and practice calligraphy just one block away.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 22 May 2026
Entry comes with a tug on the giant calligraphy brush that adorns the doorway.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Gothic calligraphy is a strange script that today is very hard to read.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026
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Noun
Kyoto calligraphy is often paired with tea ceremonies.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
As preschoolers dance, paint and play inside a Sunset Park daycare center, seniors sing traditional Chinese opera, exercise and practice calligraphy just one block away.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 22 May 2026
Entry comes with a tug on the giant calligraphy brush that adorns the doorway.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Gothic calligraphy is a strange script that today is very hard to read.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for calligraphy
Cite this Entry
“Calligraphy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calligraphy. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calligraphy
noun
cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈlig-rə-fē
1
a
: beautiful handwriting
b
: the art of producing such handwriting
calligrapher
noun
-rə-fər
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