calligraphy

noun

cal·​lig·​ra·​phy kə-ˈli-grə-fē 

1

a

: artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering

b

: the art of producing such writing

2

: penmanship

3

: an ornamental line in drawing or painting

calligraphic

ˌka-lə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

calligraphically

ˌka-lə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Kalli- is a Greek root meaning "beautiful", and "beautiful" in the case of calligraphy means artistic, stylized, and elegant. Calligraphy has existed in many cultures, including Indian, Persian, and Islamic cultures; Arabic puts a particularly high value on beautiful script, and in East Asia calligraphy has long been considered a major art. Calligraphers in the West use pens with wide nibs, with which they produce strokes of widely differing width within a single letter.

Synonyms

• handwriting
• longhand
• manuscript
• penmanship
• script

Examples of calligraphy in a Sentence

she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy

Recent Examples on the Web

The artworks, mostly soft and sinuous, include a video of hair-braiding and a flock of curving sculptures, modeled on Persian calligraphy and suspended overhead. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 21 June 2024

Its collection — more than a million works of art -- is strong in maritime art and artifacts, Asian textiles, calligraphy, ceramics, Oceanic art, Asian export art, American portraits, furniture, silver, porcelain, Native American art, fashion, and photography. ... —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 20 June 2024

Guests can learn Renaissance crafts such as basket and textile weaving, candle making and calligraphy at educational demonstrations led by potters, blacksmiths and other artisans. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

One, seized by Suleiman the Magnificent from the tomb of a long-dead Mongol ruler, has sprawling gold medallions set amidst lines of multi-colored calligraphy. —Nick Danforth, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

French or Greek; French calligraphie, from Greek kalligraphia, from kalli- beautiful (from kallos beauty) + -graphia -graphy

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

calligraphy

noun

cal·​lig·​ra·​phy kə-ˈlig-rə-fē 

1

a

: beautiful handwriting

b

: the art of producing such handwriting

2

: penmanship sense 2

calligrapher

-rə-fər

noun