repertory

American  

[rep-er-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈrɛp ərˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

• repertories
  plural

1. a type of theatrical presentation in which a company presents several works regularly or in alternate sequence in one season.

2. Also called repertory company, repertory theater. a theatrical company that presents productions in this manner.

3. repertoire.

4. a store or stock of things available.

5. storehouse.

---

repertory British  

/ ˈrɛpətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. the entire stock of things available in a field or of a kind; repertoire

2. a building or place where a stock of things is kept; repository

3. short for repertory company

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• repertorial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• repertories
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of repertory

1545–55; < Late Latin repertōrium inventory, equivalent to Latin reper ( īre ) to discover, find, make up ( re- re- + -perīre, combining form of parere to bring forth, produce) + -tōrium -tory ²

---

Explanation

A repertory is a collection of pieces that are ready to be performed, like a theater's repertory of plays or a singer's repertory of songs. The word repertory is very similar to the related repertoire, and they share the Late Latin root repertorium, "inventory or list." The French repertoire is generally more common, meaning "full range of what you can do." Repertory is more likely to specifically mean a theater or company of actors with a regularly performed repertoire of plays.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

repertory repertories

But Clockwork isn’t solely aimed at repertory restorations, either.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

Not long ago, Mr. Threadgill began convening repertory ensembles to play material from his earlier groups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The scrupulously staged and rehearsed repertory at the Joyce, with Elisa Clark assisting as rehearsal director, holds bright promise for future retrospective efforts mining the Mark Morris Dance Group’s rich repertory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

His favorite parts of the city are its repertory cinemas and lush neighborhoods like Mount Washington, where his godfather resides, because they look the most like Vancouver.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

She waited until Mrs. Trotter and Miss Ellis were talking, then gave little W.E. the most fearful face in all her repertory of scary looks, sort of a cross between Count Dracula and Godzilla.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

Local writers will read from their diverse repertories of poetry, short stories, novels and essays.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

PNB is presenting six repertories plus “The Nutcracker” from September through June.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2021

Many leading conductors have balanced work between opera houses and symphony orchestras, readily transferring techniques and styles between the two genres and repertories.

From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2021

Thus, conductors develop repertories of gestures that are as specific to them as their tone of voice.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 1, 2019

The knowledge of repertories is useful to all; the preliminary search for documents is laborious to all; but not in the same degree.

From Introduction to the Study of History by George Godfrey Berry

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• repertoire
• routine

---