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

Riley Green has country music fans going wild after dropping a new video Tuesday. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Stagecoach had Nickelback on the bill a couple years ago, which points to the overlap these days between butt rock and country music. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Pendley co-wrote all 13 tracks — including two with the late Ronnie Bowman, marking some of the legendary songwriter’s final contributions to country music — and laced them all with his rural upbringing 40 miles northwest of Little Rock. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026

Charles Kelley, a member of country music trio Lady A, has been open with fans about his life both on and offstage. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

country music

noun

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