karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌker-ē-ˈō-kē 

ˌka-rē-

also

kə-ˈrō-kē  ˌkä-rä-ˈō-(ˌ)kā 

: a device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music

a karaoke machine

also : a form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)

Examples of karaoke in a Sentence

That bar has karaoke on Saturday night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also, Tuesday night K-town karaoke is just a few blocks down, if that’s your pleasure. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 27 July 2026

Bananarama The Bananas might be the most American form of entertainment ever invented, with baseball, dancing, karaoke, wrestling, comedy and some magic mixed in. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

While many Apple Music songs feature real-time lyrics, Apple has gone one step further by introducing a new karaoke feature for subscribers. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 20 July 2026

The pair are inseparable, with Margarita accompanying her mother to chemotherapy treatments and their own special celebration rituals involving karaoke and sharing combo platters. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + ōke, short for ōkesutora orchestra

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karaoke

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky

Kids Definition

karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌkar-ē-ˌō-kē  kə-ˈrō-kē 

: a device that plays music to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music