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
The five animal friends sang and danced to jazz, funk, bossa nova, Irish jig, township jive, tarantella and psychedelic soul.
—
John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Centered at Plaza de César Chávez, the festival will feature more than 80 artists representing jazz, R&B, Latin jazz, salsa, soul, funk, bossa nova, blues and other musical styles/genres.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
The music was bossa nova (no surprise there) and watermelon and toucan patterns were boss.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The song, a bossa nova anthem, became the second most played in the world mainly because of her.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Many of bossa nova’s leading lights were either just writers or just performers; Mr. Lyra was among the few who were both.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2023
The track became a global hit and boosted the profile of bossa nova music internationally.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the singer-songwriter (whose full name is Sofía Renee Jiménez Alvarado) gives a new air to pop with her soulful voice, introspective lyrics, and sonic mix of jazz, soul, bossa nova and folk.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
Comfortable in seemingly any musical setting, the Missouri native has collaborated with everyone from Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Steve Reich and bossa nova pioneer Antonio Carlos Jobim to such jazz giants as Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Centered at Plaza de César Chávez, the festival will feature more than 80 artists representing jazz, R&B, Latin jazz, salsa, soul, funk, bossa nova, blues and other musical styles/genres.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
The music was bossa nova (no surprise there) and watermelon and toucan patterns were boss.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The song, a bossa nova anthem, became the second most played in the world mainly because of her.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Many of bossa nova’s leading lights were either just writers or just performers; Mr. Lyra was among the few who were both.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2023
The track became a global hit and boosted the profile of bossa nova music internationally.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the singer-songwriter (whose full name is Sofía Renee Jiménez Alvarado) gives a new air to pop with her soulful voice, introspective lyrics, and sonic mix of jazz, soul, bossa nova and folk.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
Comfortable in seemingly any musical setting, the Missouri native has collaborated with everyone from Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Steve Reich and bossa nova pioneer Antonio Carlos Jobim to such jazz giants as Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bossa nova.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bossa nova
Cite this Entry
“Bossa nova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossa%20nova. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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