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songwriter

songwriter

124 2.8
A person who makes the words and music for popular tunes
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔŋˌraɪtər/
translation icon : compositor
  • The talented songwriter wrote lyrics that resonated with people all over the world.
  • songwriter's words and music
  • a singer-songwriter
  • songwriters and composers

And it was coming from black creators, producers, songwriters, musicians.

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Examples

  • He couldn't read music, but was the most successful songwriter of his age.

  • She has a dream of being a singer-songwriter, of doing stadium tours.

  • Well, back then I was a songwriter writing for other artists.

  • I'm really a songwriter and a singer.

  • But what is your theory on older songwriters struggling to find that same magic?

  • Should the format strive to include as many different songwriters as possible?

    Academic text (2002)
  • Without her support, encouragement, and determination to help get an unknown songwriter heard, I wouldn't be standing here.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • He's just like a legitimately great songwriter and musician and singer.

  • Since hitting the big time, this singer/songwriter has undergone something of a transformation.

  • He's a great songwriter.

Synonyms

composer
vssongwriter
316 3.9

A person who writes music as a job

usually focuses on popular or commercial songs rather than all music
lyricist
vssongwriter
16 5.4

A person who writes words for songs, often for pop music or musicals

may instead create music as well not only the words
tunesmith
vssongwriter
  • Informal
1 7.0

A person who writes songs or melodies for popular music

may also write words not only melodies for popular songs
songster
vssongwriter
  • Archaic
1 6.0

A person who sings or writes music

is specifically the creator of words or music rather than only a singer
songsmith
vssongwriter
1 7.0

A person who writes songs for a living

focuses on popular contemporary or commercial music
ballad maker
vssongwriter
7.0

A person who writes the words or music of songs that tell a story

is wider applying to popular songs generally beyond ballads
lyrist
vssongwriter
8.2

A person who writes the words of songs

can instead write music or both words and music

How Skilled

composer
316 3.9
melodist
7.7
songwriter
124 2.8
amateur
122 2.8
novice
46 3.4

Surface Forms

songwriter singular
songwriters plural

Morphology

songwriter = song + writer (transparent) = song + write + er

The word is a straightforward compound of 'song' + 'writer' (where 'writer' = write + -er), so the meaning 'a person who writes songs' is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Songwriter combines song, meaning 'a short musical piece', and writer, meaning someone who 'writes', so a songwriter is someone who writes the words or music for songs.