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

Etymology

Origin of lyricism

First recorded in 1750–60; lyric + -ism

Example Sentences

He pioneered the Afrobeat genre alongside drummer Tony Allen, blending West African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, extended improvisation, call-and-response vocals and politically charged lyricism.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Rabbit Angstrom and Frank Bascombe have a bit of the secret poet to them; their thoughts are wrapped in a flirtatious lyricism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Nearly every track on the latest release signals transformation, in both its lyricism and its sonics.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

Jay Parini, in his review, observed that the author of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was the man who “embodied, or perhaps invented, the American voice, with its granular lyricism and rough-edged, transgressive humor.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

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

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers