DJ

1 of 3

noun

ˈdē-ˌjā 

plural DJs

: disc jockey

When they [the Beatles] arrived in the U.S. in 1964, John Lennon spent his first night in New York in his hotel room, calling up radio DJs and asking them to play the Ronettes.

—Rob Sheffield

A hip-hop DJ's roles can be multi-faceted: finding the music for dancing, playing the popular tracks, being the rapper's background band, having, maintaining, and providing the equipment, producing the beats, and not least improvising instrumental solos.

—Kjetil Falkenberg Hansen

—sometimes used as a title in the stage names of disc jockeys

Jeffrey Allen Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, is a producer, deejay and actor …

—Greg Bishop

DJ

2 of 3

verb

DJed also DJ'd; DJing; DJs

transitive + intransitive

: to perform the role of a disc jockey : to act as a DJ for

Snoop Dogg has revealed that he turned down [an] offer to DJ a party for Michael Jordan.

—Will Lavin

But she's not just DJing behind turntables.

—Rodney Ho

The distinctiveness of DJing in hip hop started with the development of adroit techniques on two turntables.

—Patrick Rivers

There was a festive vibe as [Herman] Matfes DJ'd the event with fun Hanukkah and holiday music.

—Lani Mustacchi

… Paris Hilton DJed a New Year's Eve party on her own virtual island this year.

—Brad Thomas

DJ

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

district judge

2

doctor of jurisprudence

3

dust jacket

Examples of DJ in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With music provided by a live DJ, the monthly game night feels like being at a family cookout. —Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026

With few interruptions beyond a handful of quick DJ sets, Sunday’s show felt like a party. —Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 23 Mar. 2026

On an album of spectral love songs, the DJ and producer’s misty dream pop feels bigger, bolder, and decidedly grown-up. —Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026

Among the other sets on tap are a Baller Alert and Front Porch celebration of 50 years of go-go hosted by Noochie & Kenny Burns, as well as sets from Funk Flex, Beano French, Infinite Coles, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Cash Money, DJ Aktive, DJ Doc B, DJ Miss Milan, DJ Kid Roc and Ray Bae the DJ. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

DJ

noun

ˈdē-ˌjā

often not capitalized

: disc jockey