composer

American  

[kuhm-poh-zer] / kəmˈpoʊ zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that composes.

2. a person who writes music.

3. an author.

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composer British  

/ kəmˈpəʊzə /

noun

1. a person who composes music

2. a person or machine that composes anything, esp type for printing

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Etymology

Origin of composer

First recorded in 1555–65; compose + -er ¹

Explanation

A composer is an artist who writes music to be played or performed by musicians. A classical composer might work by writing out musical notation and trying things out on the piano. If you're a composer, you most likely write classical, jazz, music for film, or another type of primarily instrumental music, without lyrics. A writer of popular or rock music is more likely to be called a "songwriter." A composer might compose symphonies as a profession, or write short tunes as a hobby. In Old French, composer means "put together, arrange, or write," from com-, "with," and poser, "to place."

Example Sentences

Mr. Gibbs credits Wadada Leo Smith, the trumpeter and composer, with suggesting he document his path and purpose.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Coming from a family full of industrial engineers, the Sinaloa-born, Tijuana-raised composer initially set his sights on a degree in biomedical engineering.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

He first made his name in L.A. as a gifted pianist and as the star student of the composer Ingolf Dahl at the University of Southern California.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

In 1968, he met Bernstein, the “West Side Story” composer hailed as the 20th century’s most successful American-born orchestra leader.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Of the generation that followed Beethoven, Chopin was the composer whose influence was slowest to make its impact.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• writer