What does compere mean?
A compere is a person who hosts a live entertainment event — a variety show, gala, concert, or revue — acting as master of ceremonies by introducing each performer, filling gaps between acts, and keeping the audience engaged. The role blends announcing with light comedy: a good compere reads the room, ad-libs when something goes wrong, and lends the evening a sense of continuity. The word is primarily British; American audiences are more likely to hear 'emcee' or 'host' used for the same job. It can also function as a verb, so one may be said to compere an event. Derived from French via Latin roots shared with 'peer' and 'pair', the term carries echoes of the music-hall era yet remains entirely practical vocabulary for anyone writing about live performance, broadcasting, or staged events.
The host of a variety show, gala, or similar entertainment, responsible for introducing performers and maintaining the flow of the programme.
"The compere kept the audience laughing between acts with his quick-witted banter."
To serve as the host or master of ceremonies of an entertainment event.
"She agreed to compere this year's awards dinner despite having never hosted anything larger than a wedding."
Standard plural; pronounced identically to the singular except for the added /z/ sound.
"Two comperes alternated duties throughout the long evening of performances."
The word 'compere' is essentially French for 'godfather' — it arrived in English variety theatres from the French stage and has been holding shows together ever since.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of compere
Compere comes from the French 'compère', originally meaning godfather or companion, which traces back to medieval Latin 'compater' — literally 'with father', formed from Latin 'com-' (together) and 'pater' (father). The same Latin root 'par'/'pater' lineage gives English its related words 'peer' and 'pair' through Old French. The theatrical sense developed on the French variety stage, where the compère acted as a friendly intermediary between performers and audience, and the word entered English theatrical usage in the 19th century.
How compere is actually used
'Compere' is chiefly British; American English strongly prefers 'emcee' or 'master of ceremonies'. As a verb it takes the standard inflections ('compered', 'compering'). The word carries a slightly old-fashioned, music-hall flavour in British usage but remains current for galas, award nights, and live shows.
Easily confused with compere
'Compare' is a verb (or noun in computing) meaning to examine things for similarities and differences, while 'compere' is a person who hosts an entertainment event; they share an etymology but differ entirely in modern meaning.
A 'compeer' is a person of equal rank or status — a companion or peer — whereas a 'compere' is a show's host or master of ceremonies.