bluegrass

noun

blue·​grass ˈblü-ˌgras 

1

: any of several grasses (genus Poa) of which some have bluish-green culms

especially : kentucky bluegrass

2

[from the Blue Grass Boys, performing group, from Bluegrass state, nickname of Kentucky] : country music characterized by the use of unamplified stringed instruments (such as banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin), by free improvisation, and by close usually high-pitched harmony

Examples of bluegrass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The band was an outlier at the grimy local country and bluegrass dive bar CBGB (the members had to convince owner Hilly Kristal to book them). — Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

The label also recorded influential bluegrass artists including Doc Watson, Tim O’Brien, The Infamous Stringdusters, Larry Cordle, The Seldom Scene, New Grass Revival, Bryan Sutton, Doyle Lawson, The Del McCoury Band and more. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2026

Billy Strings sells out arenas, Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan incorporate string band sounds into stadium shows, and there’s a crop of rising bluegrass stars — some of whom are crossing over into pop and country in unexpected ways. — Rudi Greenberg, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

To my left, a string of horses are grazing peacefully in a meadow; to my right, a coterie of children are throwing footballs and making s’mores on a campfire as the distant twang of bluegrass ripples through the air. — Olivia Singer, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bluegrass

• Kentucky bluegrass
• rough bluegrass

Rhymes for bluegrass

• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse
• jackass

Kids Definition

bluegrass

noun

blue·​grass -ˌgras 

1

: any of several grasses with usually bluish green stems

especially : Kentucky bluegrass

2

: country music played on a small group of instruments (as banjo, fiddle, and mandolin) with melody or harmony often made up by players during a performance

Geographical Definition

Bluegrass

geographical name

Blue·​grass ˈblü-ˌgras 

region of central Kentucky where Kentucky bluegrass abounds that is noted for the breeding of fine horses