audition
aw-DISH-uhn
/ɔːˈdɪʃ.ən/
A practical trial performance to evaluate a singer, musician, or actor for a role or band position.
Focuses on the competitive assessment test evaluated by judges or band directors.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'auditio' (the act of hearing), from 'audire' (to hear). It originally meant the power of hearing or a formal hearing in court. By the late 19th century, it evolved in theatrical slang to mean a hearing given to a performer.
Word relationships
- tryout: Tryout is informal and frequently associated with sports, whereas audition is standard in the arts.
- screen test: Screen test applies specifically to film and television acting evaluations.
Commonly confused with
- rehearsal: An audition tests whether you get the job; a rehearsal practices the material after you have it.
Word family
- auditioned (verb): Tried out for a role or position.
- auditioning (verb): Participating in or conducting a trial performance.
Collocations
- pass an audition
- hold auditions
- open audition
- audition process
Example sentences
- "More than fifty guitarists attended the audition, but only one possessed the right stage presence." Band Formation
Memory hook
AUDition comes from AUDio—they sit and listen to your sound. A trial hearing.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a open public concert for paying ticket holders.
Fun facts
- Blind auditions, where judges sit behind screens, were popularized by classical orchestras to eliminate bias.
Also appears in
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