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.  Also called 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  

/ -trɪ, ˈrɛpətərɪ /

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

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

But his wish list of non-woke repertory, which also included Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, draws on an attachment that predates his entry into national politics: Broadway musicals.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

Some of these came in their debuts, and others from honings of previously acquired roles in the company’s rich repertory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

The list of regulars, guest conductors and soloists is long and the repertory widely varied.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 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

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

From Washington Post ● Oct. 1, 2019

Now his ballets make links in other repertories.

From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2015

His plays hold the stage now in Russia, and form part of the stock repertories every season.

From An Outline of Russian Literature by Baring, Maurice

Related Words

• repertoire
• routine