improvisation

[ im-prov-uh-zey-shuhn, im-pruh-vuh- ]
See synonyms for improvisation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the art or act of improvising, or of composing, uttering, executing, or arranging anything without previous preparation: Musical improvisation involves imagination and creativity.

  2. something improvised: The actor's improvisation in Act II was both unexpected and amazing.

Origin of improvisation

1
First recorded in 1780–90; improvise + -ation

Other words from improvisation

  • im·prov·i·sa·tion·al, adjective

Words Nearby improvisation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use improvisation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for improvisation

improvisation

/ (ˌɪmprəvaɪˈzeɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or an instance of improvising

  2. a product of improvising; something improvised

Derived forms of improvisation

  • improvisational or improvisatory (ˌɪmprəˈvaɪzətərɪ, -ˈvɪz-, ˌɪmprəvaɪˈzeɪtərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012