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

I heard the Proms concerts, where Beethoven bloomed with illuminating lyricism, color, rhythmic versatility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

If America is its past, people and culture, it is also its land, and few filmmakers have captured that land with the searching lyricism of Terrence Malick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 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

The girl band first made a mark with their 2022 debut single, Cardboard Box, which showcased their smooth group harmonies and sassy lyricism.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

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

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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