What does comping mean?
Comping is a word with two distinct modern lives. In British English, especially informally, it names the hobby of regularly entering prize competitions — sweepstakes, slogan contests, raffles and social-media giveaways — in pursuit of wins large and small; dedicated practitioners, known as compers, sometimes win substantial prizes through sheer persistence. In the world of music, comping describes what an accompanying musician, usually a pianist or guitarist, does when they improvise chords and rhythms beneath a soloist's line, a technique central to jazz performance where sensitive comping can make or break a performance. The word also once served printers as shorthand for composition — setting type, particularly via computerized photocomposition — though that sense has faded with the trade itself. Context makes clear which meaning applies, since the two usages rarely overlap.
The activity of entering many prize competitions, especially as a regular hobby; also, in music, the improvised chordal accompaniment played behind a soloist.
"His tireless comping eventually paid off with a new car."
The competition sense is chiefly British and informal.
Present participle of 'comp': to play improvised accompaniment chords, especially in jazz; or to enter prize competitions habitually.
"She spent the evening comping her way through dozens of online giveaways."
In Britain there's a whole hobby community of 'compers' who treat winning prizes like a part-time job — some have won thousands of pounds' worth of goodies purely through diligent comping.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of comping
The musical sense derives from 'comp', a shortened form of 'accompany' or 'accompaniment', which traces back through French accompagner to the Late Latin companio ('one who shares bread'), from Latin cum ('with') plus panis ('bread'). The competition-entering sense likewise comes from clipping — in this case of 'competition', from Latin competitio, from competere ('to strive together'). Both senses arose as informal 20th-century abbreviations, with the printing sense shortening 'composition', from Latin compositio.
Related word forms
How comping is actually used
As a competition-entering term, comping is informal British English and strongly associated with the community of 'compers'; it is rarely used this way in American English. In musical contexts, comping is standard professional vocabulary among jazz musicians worldwide and typically appears unhyphenated in phrases such as 'comping rhythms'. The printing sense is now largely obsolete.
Easily confused with comping
Camping means staying outdoors in a tent or caravan, while comping means entering prize competitions or, in music, accompanying a soloist with chords.
Compering is acting as a presenter or master of ceremonies at an event, whereas comping refers to competition-entering or musical accompaniment.