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

Example Sentences

However, entertainment reporter Jonathan Sim says Galaxy pulls things back, which allows composer Brian Tyler's "excellent musical score" to take centre stage.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The Magnani Rocca Foundation was established following the death of Luigi Magnani, a composer and art collector, in 1984 in his family home.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“I wouldn’t be … the person I am, the musician I am, without Mary Ann,” said Goetz, a classical and jazz musician and composer who began taking lessons with Cummins in first grade.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

With a variety of collaborators, including Hal Prince, George Furth, John Weidman, Hugh Wheeler and James Lapine, he went on to forge a distinctive legacy as both a composer and lyricist.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Until Elgar, Vaughan Williams and perhaps Parry in the twentieth century, no composer commanded as much respect, pride or admiration among Britons.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• writer