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

When Lou first started playing in the bluegrass circles of Michigan, Greensky had already been established for a decade. —Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025

Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2025

Grassy weeds such as annual bluegrass need a control product that contains atrazine. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025

Since 1925, the show's seen its fair share of iconic moments, including the birth of bluegrass, six encores from Hank Williams and the beginning of the Johnny Cash and June Carter love story. —Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Oct. 2025

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
• chagas
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse

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