lyricism

American  

[lir-uh-siz-uhm] / ˈlɪr əˌsɪz əm /

noun

1. lyric character or style, as in poetry.

2. lyric feeling; enthusiasm, especially when unrestrained or exaggerated.

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lyricism British  

/ ˈlɪrɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. the quality or style of lyric poetry

2. emotional or enthusiastic outpouring

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Other Word Forms

• nonlyricism
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of lyricism

First recorded in 1750–60; lyric + -ism

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Explanation

Lyricism is the quality of tunefulness or melody that a piece of music has. A choir director carefully considers the lyricism of the songs she chooses for a big concert. Something with lyricism is lyrical, or singable. This noun also captures the emotional nature of certain works of art, particularly poetry and other writing: "The poem's lyricism makes it possible for the reader to acutely experience those feelings of loss and despair." The related word lyric means "the words to a song," but originally meant "a lyric poem," from the Greek lyrikos, "singing to the lyre."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lyricism

Mr. Mattei’s velvety baritone brings rawness, lyricism, and even a bit of falsetto to the unfolding of Lincoln’s pain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Ryan Speedo Green was an eloquent Banquo; Freddie De Tommaso’s bright tenor brought poignant lyricism to Macduff’s lament for his murdered family.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Like most of música mexicana, it, too, is evolving, both in sound and lyricism, encapsulating today’s complex dating culture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

He’s just bracingly honest and notoriously wobbly when asked to verbalize the significance of everything and anything — from his poetically dense lyricism to the whole of his revered music career.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

She read the Qur’an and was struck by its power and lyricism.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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