# ensemble

/ɑnˈsɑmbəɫ/ (US) · /ɒnsˈɒmbəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a group of performers

noun · CEFR B2

a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.

For teachers: a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together as a unit rather than as soloists.

- The jazz ensemble played at the local club every Thursday night.
- The chamber ensemble received a standing ovation for their intricate interpretation of the modern string quartet.

Usage: Often used as a collective noun; can take a singular or plural verb in British English.

### 2. a matching outfit

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a set of clothes that are worn together because they match or look good.

For teachers: a complete outfit or costume, especially one where the components are carefully coordinated.

- She wore an elegant silk ensemble to the wedding.
- The designer's spring collection featured a striking ensemble of linen trousers and a matching structured blazer.

Teaching tip: In fashion contexts, this word sounds more sophisticated and formal than 'outfit'.

### 3. a coordinated whole

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a group of different parts that work together to make one complete thing.

For teachers: a group of separate elements that contribute to a coordinated whole.

- The old buildings and the new park create a beautiful ensemble.
- The architect viewed the city square as a single ensemble rather than a collection of individual structures.

### 4. statistical physics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a large collection of possible states of a system used in science.

For teachers: an idealisation consisting of a large number of virtual copies of a system, considered all at once.

- The scientist used a grand canonical ensemble to model the gas particles.
- In statistical mechanics, the properties of the system are determined by averaging over the entire ensemble of possible microstates.

### 5. machine learning

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way for computers to learn by combining many different guesses to get a better answer.

For teachers: a supervised learning algorithm that combines multiple hypotheses to improve predictive performance.

- The ensemble model was much more accurate than any single algorithm.
- By using an ensemble of decision trees, the researchers significantly reduced the variance of their predictions.

### 6. to coordinate

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to put things together so they work as one group.

For teachers: to assemble or coordinate separate parts into a unified whole.

- The software helps to ensemble different data sets for analysis.
- The project aims to ensemble various climate models to produce a more reliable long-term forecast.

## Examples

- The jazz ensemble plays every Friday night at the club.
- She wore a stunning silk ensemble that perfectly matched the formal atmosphere of the evening gala.
- The conductor worked tirelessly with the chamber ensemble to ensure that the delicate balance between the woodwinds and the strings remained consistent throughout the entire performance.

---

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.