Definition and Usage of Repertoire | Generated by AI
Question: What does “repertoire” mean?
Answer:
Repertoire (pronounced /ˈrɛp.ər.twɑːr/) is a noun with several related meanings depending on the context:
- The collection of works/skills a performer knows and can perform
The most common modern usage — especially in music, theater, dance, and acting.- A pianist’s repertoire
- A singer’s repertoire
- The orchestra’s standard repertoire
Example:
“She has an impressive repertoire of Chopin pieces.”
→ She knows and can play many Chopin works well. - The set of things someone is capable of doing (figurative / extended use)
Example:- “His conversational repertoire includes dad jokes, philosophy, and tech talk.”
- “The chef’s repertoire doesn’t include spicy food.”
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All the plays / pieces a theater company, band, or artist regularly performs
Example:
“The theater’s repertoire this season includes both classics and new works.” - (Biology / Immunology)
The complete range of something produced by a system- “antibody repertoire” = all the different antibodies an organism can produce
- “T-cell repertoire”
Quick summary of most frequent meanings today:
| Context | Most common meaning | Typical example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Music / singing | All the songs/pieces a musician knows and performs | “This band has a very limited repertoire.” |
| Acting / theater | All the roles/plays an actor or company can perform | “Shakespeare is a big part of their repertoire.” |
| Everyday speech | The range of things someone knows how to do or talk about | “Her flirting repertoire needs some new material.” 😄 |
| Formal / academic | Complete set of items available in a category | “The library’s repertoire of rare books is outstanding.” |
In short: repertoire ≈ the stock / collection of things you have mastered and are ready to use/perform/show.
References:
- None needed (standard English word definition)