improvisation

[im-prov-uh-zey-shuh n, im-pruh-vuh-]

noun

the art or act of improvising, or of composing, uttering, executing, or arranging anything without previous preparation: Musical improvisation involves imagination and creativity.

something improvised: The actor's improvisation in Act II was both unexpected and amazing.

Origin of improvisation

First recorded in 1780–90; improvise + -ation

Related formsim·prov·i·sa·tion·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for improvisational

Contemporary Examples of improvisational

Even the chefs—the younger, more intriguing ones, at least—seemed to be unschooled, unofficial, improvisational.
Why Los Angeles Is the Best Food Town in America
Andrew Romano
November 16, 2013
But at the same time, I miss some of the improvisational energy.
Literary City: Jay McInerney’s New York
Henry Krempels
January 26, 2013
There is a certain hypnotic rhythm, almost an improvisational quality, to his sentences.
Must Reads: Kennedy, Sontag and Paris, ‘A Partial History of Lost Causes,’ ‘City of Bohane,’ ‘Flatscreen’
Lauren Elkin, Mythili Rao, Drew Toal, Nicholas Mancusi
April 6, 2012
A lot of the scenes seem to have an improvisational quality.
Justified: Talking to Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins
Allen Barra
April 5, 2011
Tom Skerritt: The extras were basically this improvisational group that he found in San Francisco.
The Making of M*A*S*H
Mitchell Zuckoff
October 24, 2009

British Dictionary definitions for improvisational

improvisation

noun

the act or an instance of improvising

a product of improvising; something improvised

Derived Formsimprovisational or improvisatory (ˌɪmprəˈvaɪzətərɪ, -ˈvɪz-, ˌɪmprəvaɪˈzeɪtərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for improvisational

adj.

1879; see improvisation + -al (1).

improvisation

mid-15c., "unforeseen happening;" 1786 as "act of improvising musically," from French improvisation, from improviser "compose or say extemporaneously," from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso "unforeseen, unprepared," from Latin improvisus "not foreseen, unforeseen, unexpected," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + provisus "foreseen," also "provided," past participle of providere "foresee, provide" (see provide).