improvisation

noun

im·​pro·​vi·​sa·​tion (ˌ)im-ˌprä-və-ˈzā-shən 

ˌim-prə-və-,

 also  ˌim-prə-(ˌ)vī-

1

: the act or art of improvising

2

: something (such as a musical or dramatic composition) improvised

improvisational

(ˌ)im-ˌprä-və-ˈzā-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌim-prə-və-

 also  ˌim-prə-(ˌ)vī-

adjective

improvisationally adverb

Synonyms

• ad-lib
• extemporization
• impromptu
• improv

Examples of improvisation in a Sentence

that comedy skit was a totally unrehearsed improvisation

Recent Examples on the Web

In this week’s promo for Saturday Night Live, a bespectacled, dressed down Gaga — who will be both host and musical guest Saturday — sits at a piano in the SNL offices, performing musical improvisations that comment on various cast members passing through. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025

India has used a mix of improvisation, co-optation, and coercion to control the northeast, often betraying its own constitutional values in the process. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

The survival mechanics may turn players away and sometimes even stifle your current approach, but situations like these force improvisation and is part of the fun. —George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025

That led to more improvisation to try to find the funds required. —Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for improvisation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

improvisation

noun

im·​pro·​vi·​sa·​tion (ˌ)im-ˌpräv-ə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌim-prə-və-

1

: the act or art of improvising

2

: something that is improvised

improvisational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective