bolero

noun

bo·​le·​ro bə-ˈler-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce bolero (audio)
-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
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With her new single, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter iLe reaffirms her deep understanding of the mystique contained within the bolero genre, a style rooted in the former Calle 13 member’s sonic DNA. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025 Lucrecia Dalt broke out in 2022 with the sci-fi bolero opus ¡Ay! Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 5 Sep. 2025 Uchis, 31, is equally adept and authoritative whether performing reggaeton or boleros, cumbia or reggae, hip-hop or dance-pop, R&B or electronica. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025 Traditional boleros are recorded in a very organic, natural way. Vita Dadoo, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bolero

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bolero was in 1787

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Cite this Entry

“Bolero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolero. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bolero

noun
bo·​le·​ro bə-ˈle(ə)r-ō How to pronounce bolero (audio)
plural boleros
1
: a Spanish dance in ¾ time
2
: a waist-length jacket open at the front

More from Merriam-Webster on bolero

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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