choir

American  

[kwahy^uhr] / kwaɪər /

Archaic, quire

noun

1. a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

2. any group of musicians or musical instruments; a musical company, or band, or a division of one.

   string choir.

3. Architecture.

   1. the part of a church occupied by the singers of the choir.

   2. the part of a cruciform church east of the crossing.

4. (in medieval angelology) one of the orders of angels.

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adjective

1. professed to recite or chant the divine office.

   a choir monk.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to sing or sound in chorus.

idioms

1. preach to the choir. see preach to the choir.

choir British  

/ kwaɪə /

noun

1. an organized group of singers, esp for singing in church services

2. 1. the part of a cathedral, abbey, or church in front of the altar, lined on both sides with benches, and used by the choir and clergy Compare chancel

   2. ( as modifier )

      choir stalls

3. a number of instruments of the same family playing together

   a brass choir

4. Also called: choir organ.  one of the manuals on an organ controlling a set of soft sweet-toned pipes Compare great swell

5. any of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology

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Other Word Forms

• choirlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of choir

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English quer, from Old French cuer, from Latin chorus “choir,” replacing Old English chor, from Latin; see chorus

Explanation

A choir is group of singers, often gathered for church ceremonies. If you love to sing but don't fancy a solo turn on a TV talent show, perhaps joining a choir would satisfy you. Choir, pronounced QUIRE, comes from the Latin word chorus, which itself comes from the Greek name for a group of singers and dancers. We still use chorus for singing or dancing, but choir is exclusively for singing groups. Although choirs are traditionally associated with church services, they don't have to be. If you love singing but aren't religious, you could start a choir that sings about the glory of donuts. It's also a verb, as in, "I love to choir."

Example Sentences

“The personal journey to continue to discover things about Betye. I can open a ledger and it’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot she designed costumes for the Tuskegee Choir.’

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

He was getting set to open his production of “Cold War Choir Practice,” a new play by Ro Reddick that won the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Some of the most arresting work came from the Clarion Choir.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

"While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe," said Ezugwu, who is music director of the Amemuso Choir where Ifunanya sang.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

As I listened to the final notes sung by the Boys Choir of Harlem their song’s message still lingered in my heart: “All black boys are bom of heroes.”

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• assemblage
• band
• cast
• chorus
• orchestra
• quartet
• quintet
• sextet
• trio
• troupe