: a polyphonic choral composition on a sacred text usually without instrumental accompaniment
Examples of motet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Latin polyphony and motets are being sung at the Offertory and during the distribution of Holy Communion.
—
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
Her husband, my grandfather, was not only a composer who wrote liturgical music, motets, symphonies, and string quartets but also a beloved music teacher who believed that music was as crucial to the development of the mind as math.
—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2024
An early breakthrough came from listening to a traditional singer of the Serer people, whose plaintive melody reminded Catta of a Renaissance motet.
—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2022
Philippe Herreweghe led his Ghent choir in a fine performance of Mendelssohn’s motet.
—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
28 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motet
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Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
Her husband, my grandfather, was not only a composer who wrote liturgical music, motets, symphonies, and string quartets but also a beloved music teacher who believed that music was as crucial to the development of the mind as math.
—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2024
An early breakthrough came from listening to a traditional singer of the Serer people, whose plaintive melody reminded Catta of a Renaissance motet.
—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2022
Philippe Herreweghe led his Ghent choir in a fine performance of Mendelssohn’s motet.
—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
28 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for motet
Cite this Entry
“Motet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motet. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motet
noun
mo·tet
mō-ˈtet 
: a form of church music to be sung by several voices usually without accompanying instruments and with several melodies woven together
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