assemblage

noun

as·​sem·​blage ə-ˈsem-blij 

 for sense 3 also  ˌa-ˌsäm-ˈbläzh

1

: a collection of persons or things : gathering

2

: the act of assembling : the state of being assembled

3

a

: an artistic composition made from scraps, junk, and odds and ends (as of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or metal)

b

: the art of making assemblages

Synonyms

• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• convocation
• gathering
• ingathering
• meeting
• muster

Examples of assemblage in a Sentence

an assemblage of onlookers at the construction site

tried to sort through the assemblage of ripped wrapping paper and boxes for the missing toy

Recent Examples on the Web

The Delaware artist’s verse complements the mixed-media pictures and 3D assemblages. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 21 June 2024

The main charm of the show, all told, has less to do with the assemblage of guests than watching Mulaney’s effortless wrangling of them. —Aja Romano, Vox, 11 May 2024

Finally, this assemblage of plants may have been part of a divination ritual... —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 May 2024

For those who believed Bourbaki’s goal was to replace informal mathematical thinking with cold manipulations of signs and assemblages, Bourbaki’s aims certainly seemed preposterous, especially when extended beyond the walls of mathematics departments. —Michael Barany, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, from assembler "to bring together, assemble" + -age -age

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

assemblage

noun

as·​sem·​blage ə-ˈsem-blij 

 for 3 also  ˌas-ˌäm-ˈbläzh

1

: a collection or gathering of persons or things

2

: the act of assembling

3

: an artistic composition made by putting together scraps or junk