adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- chorally adverb
Etymology
Origin of choral
1580–90; < Medieval Latin chorālis, equivalent to chor ( us ) chorus + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
When a large, organized group sings together, the music can be described as choral. Singing the choral piece "Messiah" by Handel is an annual tradition for many people who celebrate Christmas. The adjective choral is used for music that's sung by a choir or chorus — or written for voices, rather than instruments. It also describes anything connected to that kind of singing, like choral groups, choral concerts, and choral scholars who major in music at college. The word comes from the Greek khoros, which means "dance," but implies some singing too.
Vocabulary lists containing choral
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Born in Stuttgart in 1933, Mr. Rilling studied organ and composition before establishing himself as a choral director of authority and musicality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
Ms. Chan is a scholar of Renaissance arts and a former choral singer, and her book profits from her musician’s view of how music feels in the body and fires the senses.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Speaking about her new choral work, she said: "It's not sentimental, but in kind of a way it is, because it's talking about the love of the place and the people."
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
“Reputation‘s” slow-burn hit “Don’t Blame Me” follows a similar playbook, using a killer choral backing to achieve the same hymnal quality that complex vocal layering creates on “Elizabeth Taylor.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
A typical choral arrangement divides women into higher and lower voices and men into higher or lower voices.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
