performance

English

Alternative forms

• performaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform +‎ -ance.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pər-fôrʹ-məns, IPA^(key): /pəɹ.ˈfɔɹ.məns/
  • (UK) IPA^(key): [pə.ˈfɔː.məns]
  • (US) IPA^(key): [pɚ.ˈfɔɹ.məns]

Audio (GA)

Duration: 2 seconds.0:02

• Hyphenation: per‧for‧mance

Noun

performance (countable and uncountable, plural performances)

1. The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action. [ quotations ▼]

   the performance of an undertaking or a duty

   Though the result wasn't what we were hoping for, I have to commend the performance of the team, never giving up until the end.

2. That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.
3. (art) A live show or concert.

   The band played a mix of old and new songs during their 90-minute performance.

   We saw the whole ballet performance from the front row.

4. The amount of useful work accomplished estimated in terms of time needed, resources used, etc.

   Better performance means more work accomplished in shorter time and/or using fewer resources.

5. (linguistics) The actual use of language in concrete situations by native speakers of a language, as opposed to the system of linguistic knowledge they possess (competence), cf. linguistic performance.