com·po·si·tion
ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of composing
specifically
: arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form
the painting's unique composition
b(1)
: the arrangement of type for printing
hand composition
(2)
: the production of type or typographic characters (as in photocomposition) arranged for printing
2
3
: mutual settlement or agreement
The two parties came to a composition.
4
: a product of mixing or combining various elements or ingredients
a composition of rubber and cork
5
: an intellectual creation: such as
a
: a piece of writing
especially
: a school exercise in the form of a brief essay
wrote a composition on the role of the police in our society
b
: a written piece of music especially of considerable size and complexity
Her composition for piano and flute was played at the recital.
6
: the quality or state of being compound
7
: the operation of forming a composite function
also
: composite function
compositionally
adverb
com·po·si·tion·al
¦käm-pə-¦zish-nəl
-¦zi-shə-nᵊl
: of or having to do with composition
compositional laws
often employed Southeast Asian scales as a compositional resource
the compositional arrangement with horizontals, verticals, diagonals—
Eva M. Neumeyer
Eva M. Neumeyer
compositionally
adverb
Examples of composition in a Sentence
Noun
the changing composition of the country's population
the composition of a chemical compound
The teacher reminded us to hand in our compositions at the end of class.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.
—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 July 2026
Despite those altruistic goals, from the beginning, the commission faced criticism that the composition and agenda of the body were slanted toward a conservative Christian perspective.
—
Steven K. Green,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
By observing these transits with the JWST, the team was able to measure the mass and temperature of this Jupiter-like planet while also observing the composition of its atmosphere.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for composition
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Noun
The composition of the bar changed dramatically as many Loyalist lawyers departed, others were jailed and younger lawyers assumed responsibilities previously held by members of the colonial establishment.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.
—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 July 2026
Despite those altruistic goals, from the beginning, the commission faced criticism that the composition and agenda of the body were slanted toward a conservative Christian perspective.
—
Steven K. Green,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
By observing these transits with the JWST, the team was able to measure the mass and temperature of this Jupiter-like planet while also observing the composition of its atmosphere.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for composition
Cite this Entry
“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
composition
noun
com·po·si·tion
ˌkäm-pə-ˈzish-ən
1
: the act or process of composing
2
: the manner in which the parts of a thing are put together : makeup
the composition of a painting
3
: the elements of a compound
the composition of rubber
4
: a product of combining ingredients : combination
a composition made of several different metals
5
: a literary, musical, or artistic production
especially
: a short piece of writing done as a school exercise
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