What does choral mean?
The adjective 'choral' describes anything relating to, composed for, or sung by a choir or chorus. It appears most often in phrases such as 'choral music', 'choral society', and 'choral arrangement', and it signals music written for multiple voices, usually in parts, as opposed to solo or purely instrumental performance. The word carries a somewhat formal, classical connotation, evoking church services, cathedral choirs, amateur choral societies, and large-scale works such as oratorios and requiems. Derived ultimately from the Latin 'chorus', meaning a group of singers or dancers, it entered English in the seventeenth century through French. It should not be confused with the similar-sounding 'coral', which refers to marine organisms. For anyone interested in music, 'choral' is a precise and useful term for distinguishing the rich tradition of group singing from other forms of musical expression.
adjectiveRelating to, composed for, or sung by a choir or chorus.
- Relating to, written for, or performed by a choir or chorus.
"The concert opened with a stirring choral arrangement of the old hymn."
"She joined a choral society that rehearses every Thursday evening."
"The composer's later works are largely instrumental, though he returned to choral writing for his final symphony."
Mix up 'choral' and 'coral' in a program note and you'll have an audience picturing an underwater reef belting out Handel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choral
'Choral' derives from the Latin 'chorus', itself borrowed from Greek 'khoros', meaning a band of singers or dancers. The word passed into English in the early seventeenth century via French 'choral'. It shares this root with related musical terms including 'chorus' and 'choir' (the latter through Old French), as well as the German-influenced 'chorale'.
Related word forms
How choral is actually used
'Choral' is used almost exclusively in musical contexts and carries a slightly formal register; it typically appears attributively before nouns such as 'music', 'work', or 'society' rather than predicatively.
Easily confused with choral
Coral is the hard stony substance secreted by marine polyps (or a pinkish-orange color), while choral relates to singing by a choir.