cabaret

noun

cab·​a·​ret ˌka-bə-ˈrā 

ˈka-bə-ˌrā

1

archaic : a shop selling wines and liquors

2

a

: a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment (as by singers or dancers) : nightclub

b

: the show provided at a cabaret

Synonyms of cabaret

• nightclub
• club

Examples of cabaret in a Sentence

a singing superstar who got her start singing in the cabarets of New York City

Recent Examples on the Web

The Verre Jaune includes Hendricks grand cabaret gin, basil, lillet blanc, lemon and tonic — a delightful little drink made all the better by the sounds of the Max Wellman Big Band. —Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register, 4 Mar. 2026

Zidler, in the 2001 Baz Luhrman movie about a composer falling in love with a cabaret star in Belle Époque Paris, was Harold Zidler, the proprietor of the Moulin Rouge, and played by Jim Broadbent. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026

Lee went on to direct a number of cabaret shows based on the music of Stephen Sondheim. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026

The cabaret-style event features local performers singing favorites, including Broadway tunes, organizers said. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French dialect (Picard or Walloon), from Middle Dutch, alteration of cambret, cameret, from Middle French dialect (Picard) camberete small room, ultimately from Late Latin camera — more at chamber

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cabaret

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

cabaret

noun

cab·​a·​ret ˌkab-ə-ˈrā 

ˈkab-ə-ˌrā

: nightclub