bolero

noun

bo·​le·​ro bə-ˈler-(ˌ)ō 

-ˈle-rō

plural boleros

1

: a Spanish dance characterized by sharp turns, stamping of the feet, and sudden pauses in a position with one arm arched over the head

also : music in ³/₄ time for a bolero

2

: a loose waist-length jacket open at the front

Examples of bolero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the May 24 visit, the Princess donned a tea-length green dress with a bolero jacket. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026

Growing up in a highly musical family, he was often enlisted to accompany his father, an amateur vocalist and guitar player who loved performing boleros. —Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

In the coming years, Price hosted several Fashion Extravaganza events, combining fashion and rock music, and dressed major celebrities such as Jerry Hall in a bolero and dress with lampshade peplum at the Fashion Aid event in 1985. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025

This vibrant opus celebrates Puerto Rican rhythms by bridging reggaeton and Latin trap with the acoustic sounds of previous generations, like salsa, plena, bolero, and perreo. —Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bolero

• bracero
• estero
• herero
• montero
• potrero
• primero
• prospero
• romero
• sombrero
• vaquero
• wheelbarrow
• aero

Kids Definition

bolero

noun

bo·​le·​ro bə-ˈle(ə)r-ō 

plural boleros

1

: a Spanish dance in ¾ time

2

: a waist-length jacket open at the front