calligraphy
noun
cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈli-grə-fē 
1
a
: artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering
b
: the art of producing such writing
2
3
: an ornamental line in drawing or painting
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Kalli- is a Greek root meaning "beautiful", and "beautiful" in the case of calligraphy means artistic, stylized, and elegant. Calligraphy has existed in many cultures, including Indian, Persian, and Islamic cultures; Arabic puts a particularly high value on beautiful script, and in East Asia calligraphy has long been considered a major art. Calligraphers in the West use pens with wide nibs, with which they produce strokes of widely differing width within a single letter.
Examples of calligraphy in a Sentence
she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy
Recent Examples on the Web
Chef and restaurateur Ramon Velazquez stops by, and Meghan makes individual margaritas for each of her girlfriends based on their individual palette, labeling each in her famous calligraphy.
—
Erin Hill, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Art therapy workshops harness the power of painting, pottery, or calligraphy to reduce anxiety and promote introspection in a glass-walled greenhouse.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 31 Jan. 2025
Tips For Creating And Delivering A Special Letter From Santa
Here are a few strategies for making a letter from Santa extra special:
Use a calligraphy pen and Christmas stationery, or find a Santa letter template with fancy fonts and bright colors.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
The stop in Shanghai includes Chinese calligraphy lessons, an urban walking tour, and a day trip to Hangzhou by high-speed rail to cruise the UNESCO World Heritage Site, West Lake.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calligraphy
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Erin Hill, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Art therapy workshops harness the power of painting, pottery, or calligraphy to reduce anxiety and promote introspection in a glass-walled greenhouse.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 31 Jan. 2025
Tips For Creating And Delivering A Special Letter From Santa
Here are a few strategies for making a letter from Santa extra special:
Use a calligraphy pen and Christmas stationery, or find a Santa letter template with fancy fonts and bright colors.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
The stop in Shanghai includes Chinese calligraphy lessons, an urban walking tour, and a day trip to Hangzhou by high-speed rail to cruise the UNESCO World Heritage Site, West Lake.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calligraphy
Cite this Entry
“Calligraphy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calligraphy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calligraphy
noun
cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈlig-rə-fē
1
a
: beautiful handwriting
b
: the art of producing such handwriting
calligrapher
noun
-rə-fər
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