jazz

1 of 2

noun

ˈjaz 

1

: music of African American origin typically played with a syncopated steady rhythm and using repeating harmonic sequences (as of popular songs or the blues) as the basis for extemporaneous improvised solos and in which instruments often imitate vocal qualities of phrasing, timbre, and pitch (as blue notes)

2

: jazz dance

takes classes in ballet, tap, and jazz

… No, jazz dance is not dead. Jazz in the twenty-first century is a mix of roots and fruits of the form, traditions, progressions, and transgressions.

—Melanie George

—often used before another noun

a jazz dancer

jazz choreography

3

: similar but unspecified things : stuff

I love the life of the open sea. It's so … free, that wind, and the waves, and all that jazz.

—John Updike

4

: empty talk : nonsense sense 1b(1)

Don't give me that jazz about guys still fighting for jobs. Please. If it's this close to the regular season and you're still fighting for a roster spot … your odds of having a long NFL career are less than slim.

—Tom Jones

jazzlike

ˈjaz-ˌlīk 

adjective

jazz

2 of 2

verb

jazzed; jazzing; jazzes

transitive verb

1

a

: enliven

—usually used with up

b

: accelerate

2

: to play in the manner of jazz

intransitive verb

1

: to go here and there : gad

2

: to dance to or play jazz

Synonyms of jazz

Noun

• nuts
• nonsense
• garbage
• blah
• rubbish
• stupidity
• silliness
• punk
• drool
• beans
• fiddle
• bunk
• craziness

Verb

• stimulate
• zip (up)
• liven (up)

Examples of jazz in a Sentence

Noun

What's all this jazz about you leaving?

She loves hiking, biking, and all that jazz.

Verb

your assignment is to jazz up the design of that Web page

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Related On the 10-track set, Santiler, a former 2025 Billboard On the Radar Latin artist, seamlessly navigates from alternative to jazz to electronic, while fearlessly redefining Latin pop music. — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026

Because standup basses are hard to travel with, touring jazz musicians like Hsu who are performing in Miami often rent from Winters. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

Immelman was particularly jazzed about Scheffler’s performance last weekend. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Despite their differing opinions on Oppenheimer, everyone in the studio was jazzed to see what Nolan had made (though Hannah was a little skeptical of Matt Damon as Odysseus). — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing jazz

• free jazz
• jazz dance
• jazz-rock
• jazz up

Rhymes for jazz

• as
• has
• topaz
• whereas

Kids Definition

jazz

1 of 2 noun

ˈjaz 

1

: American music marked by lively rhythms with unusual accents and often by melodies made up by musicians as they play

2

: empty talk

don't give me any of that jazz

3

: similar but unspecified things : stuff

jazz

2 of 2 verb

1

: enliven

—usually used with up

2

: to play in the manner of jazz