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

Soon after, he began an apprenticeship in London with the composer Muzio Clementi that lasted 10 years and required that Field demonstrate pianos for his teacher’s side business as an instrument maker and retailer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

In “Miles” the great trumpet player and composer offers a warts-and-all portrait of his singular existence with a similar forthrightness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

He had always thought himself a composer and could, at a party, make up a clever song at the piano on the spot.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Sheen will reprise his role as composer Antonio Salieri opposite Howells as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Some scales are loosely based on the music of other cultures, and are used when the composer wants to evoke the music of another place or time.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• writer