# composer

/kəmˈpoʊzɝ/ (US) · /kəmpˈəʊzɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/composer
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. music writer

noun · CEFR B1

a person who writes music, especially as a professional job.

For teachers: a person who creates musical compositions, often involving the arrangement of melodies and harmonies for instruments or voices.

- The film composer spent months writing the perfect theme for the main character.
- While many contemporary composers experiment with electronic sounds, others remain dedicated to the traditional orchestral forms of the nineteenth century.

Usage: Often used with 'classical', 'film', or 'contemporary' to specify the genre of music written.

### 2. author or creator

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

someone who creates or puts together a piece of writing or art.

For teachers: a person who assembles or constructs a literary or artistic work; an author.

- The composer of this long poem lived hundreds of years ago.
- In the formal preface, the composer of the text acknowledges the various sources that informed his historical analysis.

Teaching tip: In modern English, this word almost exclusively refers to music. Using it for a writer of books or poems is very rare and sounds old-fashioned.

## Examples

- The composer spent months writing his first symphony.
- Although she is a talented pianist, her true passion is working as a film composer for independent movies.
- While many contemporary composers experiment with electronic sounds, others remain dedicated to the traditional orchestral forms established during the Romantic era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.