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

: penmanship

3

: an ornamental line in drawing or painting

calligraphic

ˌka-lə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

calligraphically

ˌka-lə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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.

Synonyms

• handwriting
• longhand
• manuscript
• penmanship
• script

Examples of calligraphy in a Sentence

she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy

Recent Examples on the Web

Meghan wrote to Hirsh in her signature calligraphy, showing off the skill she's honed since working as a calligrapher while an auditioning actor. —Janine Henni, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Her grandmother taught tea ceremonies, and her grandfather taught calligraphy. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025

After trying out a deluge of school clubs — basketball, badminton, tennis, calligraphy — and failing at all of them, one day fate leads Minami to a driving range. —Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025

Information sessions, traditional cuisine, henna, calligraphy and festive decor will be offered at the center. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French or Greek; French calligraphie, from Greek kalligraphia, from kalli- beautiful (from kallos beauty) + -graphia -graphy

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

calligraphy

noun

cal·​lig·​ra·​phy kə-ˈlig-rə-fē 

1

a

: beautiful handwriting

b

: the art of producing such handwriting

2

: penmanship sense 2

calligrapher

-rə-fər

noun