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
adjective -ˈzi-shə-nᵊl
compositionally adverb
Synonyms
- number
- opus
- piece
- work
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Frankfurter adhered to this view even after changes in the Court’s composition through the 1940s and ’50s gave progressives the chance to achieve priorities through constitutional litigation. 
Charles S. Dameron, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 In 2021, Rajabian released the orchestral composition Coup of Gods that was engineered by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 Battery design and composition improvements are likely coming but are nowhere near ready to replace standard lithium-ion yet. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2022 Commissioned by Resonance Ensemble, Melissa Dunphy’s powerful composition adapts testimonies by Christine Blasey Ford and Anita Hill from Senate confirmation hearings. Brett Campbell | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2022 Based on the sounds of Germany's traditional traveling folk festival, the accordion polka features an original composition by Google Nest audio UX designer Benjamin Decker. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 1 Sep. 2022 Jill Biden was on vacation with President Biden and their family at a private residence on Kiawah Island, S.C., during summer break from her job teaching English composition and English fundamentals at Northern Virginia Community College. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Disney’s board doesn't have the right composition to remain competitive in streaming. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 Pigments is described as one long composition filled with various movements that blend jazz, classical, and ambient elements together. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Charles S. Dameron, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 In 2021, Rajabian released the orchestral composition Coup of Gods that was engineered by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 Battery design and composition improvements are likely coming but are nowhere near ready to replace standard lithium-ion yet. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2022 Commissioned by Resonance Ensemble, Melissa Dunphy’s powerful composition adapts testimonies by Christine Blasey Ford and Anita Hill from Senate confirmation hearings. Brett Campbell | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2022 Based on the sounds of Germany's traditional traveling folk festival, the accordion polka features an original composition by Google Nest audio UX designer Benjamin Decker. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 1 Sep. 2022 Jill Biden was on vacation with President Biden and their family at a private residence on Kiawah Island, S.C., during summer break from her job teaching English composition and English fundamentals at Northern Virginia Community College. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Disney’s board doesn't have the right composition to remain competitive in streaming. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 Pigments is described as one long composition filled with various movements that blend jazz, classical, and ambient elements together. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2022 See More 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-ˈzi-shən
1
: a short piece of writing done as a school exercise
2
: the act of writing words or music
3
: the manner in which the parts of a thing are put together : makeup, constitution
The president discussed the population's changing composition.
Each rock has a slightly different composition.
4
: a literary, musical, or artistic production
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
composition
noun
1
as in piece
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- piece
- work
- masterpiece
- sketch
- opus
- number
- model
- magnum opus
- classic
- outline
- oeuvre
- showpiece
- corpus
- canon
- étude
- pièce de résistance
2
as in paper
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions Synonyms & Similar Words
- paper
- essay
- theme
- article
- story
3
as in layout
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images Synonyms & Similar Words
- layout
- design
- format
- arrangement
- pattern
- theme
- motif
- configuration
- form
- makeup
- constellation
- ordonnance
- getup
4
as in essay
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day Synonyms & Similar Words
- essay
- article
- paper
- theme
- treatise
- dissertation
- thesis
- editorial
- study
- discourse
- feature
- column
- exposition
- discussion
- commentary
- report
- write-up
- prolegomenon
- review
- causerie
- tract