calligraphy
noun
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
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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
she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy
Recent Examples on the Web
Hand lettering, a more relaxed form of calligraphy, is a simple skill to make your handwritten scrawl appear prettier on paper.
—
Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Other studies have shown that activities such as playing the piano or doing calligraphy significantly lower cortisol, a stress hormone.
—Stacy Shaw, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Unlike other similar large books of the time, the calligraphy within is remarkably uniform and changes very little throughout.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
There are titles on Chinese calligraphy, Greek mythology, and Baroque art.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
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Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Other studies have shown that activities such as playing the piano or doing calligraphy significantly lower cortisol, a stress hormone.
—Stacy Shaw, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Unlike other similar large books of the time, the calligraphy within is remarkably uniform and changes very little throughout.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
There are titles on Chinese calligraphy, Greek mythology, and Baroque art.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calligraphy
Cite this Entry
“Calligraphy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calligraphy. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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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