bossa nova

noun

bos·​sa no·​va ˌbä-sə-ˈnō-və How to pronounce bossa nova (audio)
1
: popular music of Brazilian origin that is rhythmically related to the samba but with complex harmonies and improvised jazzlike passages
2
: a dance performed to bossa nova music

Examples of bossa nova in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What's more, from João Gilberto and Gilberto Gil to the bossa nova and from the modernist painter Tarsila do Amaral to street artists Otavio Pandolfo and Gustavo Pandolfo, Brazil's culture is as vast as its landscapes and regions. Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Then, Jeff gives us a little two-step before segueing into the robot and the bossa nova. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025 This version reveals a version of Mendes beginning to step beyond the boundaries of bossa nova, embracing the U.S. pop scene. Felipe Maia, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2024 Music from bossa nova to soul to jazz electrifies the scene. Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bossa nova

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, literally, new trend

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bossa nova was in 1960

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bossa nova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossa%20nova. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bossa nova

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!