lyricist

American  

[lir-uh-sist] / ˈlɪr ə sɪst /

noun

1. a person who writes the lyrics for songs.

2. a lyric poet.

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lyricist British  

/ ˈlɪrɪsɪst /

noun

1. a person who writes the words for a song, opera, or musical play

2. Also called: lyrist.  a lyric poet

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Etymology

Origin of lyricist

First recorded in 1880–85; lyric + -ist

Explanation

A lyricist is an artist who writes the words to songs. While Leonard Bernstein composed the music for West Side Story, Stephen Sondheim was the lyricist. A song's words are lyrics, and the person who writes them is a lyricist. Originally, these terms described a kind of musical poetry and the poet who specialized in the form: the Greek root lyrikos means "singing to the lyre." Today, lyricists write the words that a vocalist will sing. Sometimes they write the music too, though lyricists often collaborate with composers to create a song.

Example Sentences

“If you think you’re the best lyricist, you must be using the Wu-Tang sword, and so we’re the Wu-Tang Clan. We felt we were the best lyricists in hip-hop.”

From Salon • May 31, 2026

Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar said in a television interview on Sunday that she would often prepare kebabs for him, taking particular pleasure when he praised her food.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

She brought him to meet her son, an aspiring lyricist named Howard Greenfield, and the pair quickly became a songwriting team, with Greenfield writing the words and Sedaka handling the music.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Steinberg's family described him as a "visionary lyricist, devoted husband, loving father, and one of the most influential songwriters of his era".

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

You might well be the lyricist of an all-time hit.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

• composer
• musician
• poet
• songwriter