Lyricist: meaning, definitions and examples

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lyricist

 

[ ˈlɪr.ɪ.sɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music

A lyricist is a person who writes the words for songs, especially for musicals or popular music.

Synonyms

poet, songwriter, wordsmith.

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Word Description / Examples
lyricist

Best used when referring to someone who writes lyrics for songs. Often involves crafting words that fit the rhythm, melody, and emotional tone of the music.

  • She won an award for being the best lyricist of the year.
  • The band hired a new lyricist to improve their songs.
songwriter

Applicable when referring to someone who writes songs and typically handles both the lyrics and the melody. It reflects a broader skill set than just writing lyrics.

  • She is a talented songwriter who has written many hit singles.
  • The band relies heavily on their lead singer who is also the principal songwriter.
poet

Suitable when talking about someone who writes poems. Poems can be about a variety of topics and are not necessarily intended to be set to music.

  • He is a well-known poet with several published collections.
  • The poet captured the beauty of the sunset in her verses.
wordsmith

A versatile term used for someone skilled in the use of words, such as poets, lyricists, writers, or anyone adept at crafting language. It has a more generalized meaning but conveys a high level of skill.

  • The journalist is a true wordsmith, making every article engaging.
  • The novelist’s reputation as a wordsmith is well-deserved.

Examples of usage

  • He is known as one of the greatest lyricists of all time.
  • The lyricist collaborated with the composer to create a beautiful song.

Translations

Translations of the word "lyricist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 letrista

🇮🇳 गीतकार

🇩🇪 Texter

🇮🇩 penulis lirik

🇺🇦 пісняр

🇵🇱 autor tekstów piosenek

🇯🇵 作詞家

🇫🇷 parolier

🇪🇸 letrista

🇹🇷 şarkı sözü yazarı

🇰🇷 작사가

🇸🇦 كاتب كلمات الأغاني

🇨🇿 textař

🇸🇰 textár

🇨🇳 作词人

🇸🇮 pesnik

🇮🇸 textahöfundur

🇰🇿 әншілер

🇬🇪 ტექსტების ავტორი

🇦🇿 mahnı sözləri yazarı

🇲🇽 letrista

Etymology

The term 'lyricist' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the word 'lyric' which refers to the words of a song. Lyricists play a crucial role in the music industry by crafting meaningful and catchy lyrics that resonate with audiences. Over the years, lyricists have been celebrated for their ability to capture emotions and tell stories through their words.

See also: lyrical, lyricize.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,521 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.