noun
calligraphy
kuh-LIHG-ruh-fee
Calligraphy (noun) means the art of decorative, stylized handwriting; also, writing produced in this style. Example: “She studied Japanese calligraphy for years before opening her own studio.”
noun
1
The art of decorative, stylized handwriting; also, writing produced in this style.
"There is, however, a temporal separation between the earthly crystallization of Quranic calligraphy and the advent of the Quranic revelation."
— Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Islamic Art and Spirituality (1987)
"Around the corner, at Goedhuis, among more contemporary calligraphies, the fat and fuzzy brushwork of Zeng Yizeng (born 1973) stands out."
— Roberta Smith, Fair Goes From Feast to Tasting Menu (2008)
"She studied Japanese calligraphy for years before opening her own studio."
"The wedding invitations were addressed in elegant calligraphy."
How to use calligraphy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDecorative, artistic handwriting, often done with special pens or brushes.
Common pairings
practice calligraphy
calligraphy pen
a calligraphy class
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Word forms
- Plural
- calligraphies
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She studied Japanese _____ for years before opening her own studio.
Etymology
From Greek kalligraphia, literally "beautiful writing," from kallos ("beauty") and graphein ("to write").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for calligraphy
geography
biography
demography
tomography
ideography
topography
lithography
iconography
mammography
discography
paleography
photography
See all rhymes for calligraphy →
Frequently asked questions
What does “calligraphy” mean?
The word “calligraphy” means the art of decorative, stylized handwriting; also, writing produced in this style. In plain terms, decorative, artistic handwriting, often done with special pens or brushes.
How do you pronounce “calligraphy”?
“Calligraphy” is pronounced kuh-LIHG-ruh-fee (/kəˈlɪɡɹəfi/ in IPA).
How do you use “calligraphy” in a sentence?
Here is “calligraphy” used in a sentence: “She studied Japanese calligraphy for years before opening her own studio.”
What is another word for “calligraphy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “calligraphy” include chirography and penmanship.
What part of speech is “calligraphy”?
“Calligraphy” is a noun.
Where does the word “calligraphy” come from?
The word “calligraphy” comes from Greek. From Greek kalligraphia, literally "beautiful writing," from kallos ("beauty") and graphein ("to write").
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