bossa nova

noun

bos·​sa no·​va ˌbä-sə-ˈnō-və 

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

Between the bossa nova, saxophone and unhurried rhythms, the album feels like a beach day in sound. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Popular music from the 1960s blended the Khmer heritage of courtly performing arts with French cabaret songs, brass music, and bossa nova introduced by way of the Philippines. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2026

The album is a bossa nova master class, demonstrating the genre’s malleability without losing sight of its Brazilian foundations. — Air Mail, 22 Aug. 2026

While much of the album settles into the moody R&B Syd does so well, Beard also plays with Afropop, bossa nova, and ’80s synth-pop. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, literally, new trend

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bossa nova

• supernova
• villanova
• jehovah
• ova