country music

noun

: music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or of the Western cowboy
especially : popular vocal music characterized by simple harmonies, accompaniment by stringed instruments (such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel), repeated choruses, and often narrative lyrics

called also country, country and western

Examples of country music 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.
Cryer got some surprise help in the form of backup vocals when veteran teammate and longtime country music enthusiast Jimmy Butler took a mic and started singing next to him. Nick Friedell, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Like millions of viewers, Rashad Raisani grew enchanted with Music City through watching the soapy nighttime drama Nashville, which captivated fans during its 2012-2018 run and led to a major tourism boom in Nashville and interest in country music. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025 Rather than focus on cover performances, the show spotlights artists who write and perform their own material, the way country music dreams are truly built. Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025 More than a thousand country music fans have signed a petition demanding that the NFL replace the Puerto Rican entertainer with 73-year-old country legend George Strait, a choice as likely as Engelbert Humperdinck. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for country music

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of country music was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Country music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/country%20music. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

country music

noun
: music coming from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or the Western cowboy

More from Merriam-Webster on country music

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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