English Reference

Word

repertory

Phoneticsreper·to·ry

US/ˈɹɛpɝˌtɔɹi/

UK/ɹˈɛpətəɹˌi/

Definitions

01theatre system

C1 · Theatre

n. a type of theatre where a permanent group of actors performs several different plays in the same season.

n. a system of play production in which a resident acting company performs a series of plays in rotation or at short intervals.

“She spent her first year as an actress working in a small repertory theatre in the countryside.”

“The company operates on a repertory basis, allowing the ensemble to maintain several distinct productions simultaneously throughout the winter season.”

Formal

Usage

Often shortened to 'rep' in informal theatrical contexts.

Synonyms

rep

02a collection of works

C1 · Music

n. the complete list of plays, songs, or pieces that a person or group is prepared to perform.

n. the entire body of works that a company or individual performer is prepared to present.

“The pianist has a vast repertory of classical and modern pieces.”

“The orchestra expanded its repertory to include contemporary avant-garde compositions alongside the standard Romantic symphonies.”

Formal

Teaching tip

While 'repertory' is correct, 'repertoire' is much more common in modern English when referring to a musician's list of songs.

03classic cinema

C2

n. a cinema that shows older, classic, or artistic films rather than new releases.

n. a cinema house that specialises in the screening of classic, independent, or historically significant films.

“The local repertory cinema is showing a marathon of old black-and-white movies this weekend.”

“The city's last remaining repertory cinema faces closure as streaming services reduce the demand for theatrical screenings of cult classics.”

Formal

Synonyms

art-house

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“Yet no other opera house besides Wagner’s has such a dependably loyal audience or such a restricted repertory – just 10 of his mature operas.”
The Guardian · 10 Aug 2026
“The French period-performance outfit acclaimed for its fresh, fiercely creative interpretations of centuries-old repertory returns to London in its 20th anniversary year.”
The Guardian · 29 Aug 2026

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin repertōrium. Doublet of repertoire.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Theater

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference