chorale

noun

cho·​rale kə-ˈral How to pronounce chorale (audio) -ˈräl How to pronounce chorale (audio)
1
: a hymn or psalm sung to a traditional or composed melody in church
also : a harmonization of a chorale melody
a Bach chorale
2

Examples of chorale in a Sentence

practiced a chorale to perform in church a chorale that is regarded as being among the best in the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As part of the chorale’s partnership with the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning, the group is asking attendees to bring children’s diapers, children’s books or to make a monetary donation to support the partnership’s initiatives, the release said. Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 Johann Sebastian Bach's works were an ideal choice given the highly mathematical structure, plus the composer was so prolific, across so many very different kinds of musical compositions—preludes, fugues, chorales, toccatas, concertos, suites, and cantatas—as to allow for useful comparisons. Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024 Bendix was one of the 16 members of the symphony and the chorale who had lost their homes. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025 A number of its singers were displaced by the fire, including the chorale’s founding artistic director, Jeffrey Bernstein, who lost his home. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chorale

Word History

Etymology

German Choral, short for Choralgesang choral song

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chorale was in 1841

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Cite this Entry

“Chorale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chorale. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

chorale

noun
cho·​rale kə-ˈral How to pronounce chorale (audio) -ˈräl How to pronounce chorale (audio)
1
: a sacred song sung by the choir or congregation or both at a church service : hymn
2

More from Merriam-Webster on chorale

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