composition

noun

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

a

: the manner in which something is composed

b

: general makeup

the changing ethnic composition of the city's population

c

: the qualitative and quantitative makeup of a chemical compound

the chemical composition of a polymer

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

compositional

ˌkäm-pə-ˈzish-nəl 

-ˈzi-shə-nᵊl

adjective

compositionally adverb

Synonyms

• number
• opus
• piece
• work

Examples of composition in a Sentence

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

The technology allows people with disabilities to evenly and accurately apply makeup through the study of how protein composition in the human body affects the skin. —Sharon Edelson, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

But the composition of these details, the totality of how the obvious or ordinary beats are strung together in each, is startling. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Originally planned as a 90-day mission to survey the geological composition of the red planet and assess its early environmental conditions, Spirit stayed on Mars for seven years. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025

The tree species compositions, if those change, that could impact where the owls are nesting and the prey. —Kayla Randall, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English composicioun, from Anglo-French composicion, from Latin composition-, compositio, from componere — see compose

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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

Legal Definition

composition

noun

com·​po·​si·​tion

: an agreement between an insolvent debtor and several creditors whereby partial payment of the debts discharges in full the original obligations compare accord sense 3, compromise