country music

Definition of country music

: 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 Ingrid Andress’ fresh take on romantic relationships or Mickey Guyton’s willingness to let us into her experience as a Black woman making country music today. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, "The 10 Best Country Albums of 2020: Staff Picks," 17 Dec. 2020 Brooks, the top-selling solo artist of all time credited for pioneering country music as a mainstream genre in the 1990s, is known for (a) huge concert tours and (b) his desire for unity and bringing everyone together. — Emily Yahr, Washington Post, "Garth Brooks on his Charley Pride duet, ‘Shallow’ cover and the truth behind that Trump rumor," 19 Nov. 2020 Cowboy Jack is slated to perform live vintage country music from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Arrowood Golf Course, 5201 Village Drive. — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Bonsall Woman’s Club planning Christmas Fundraiser," 16 Nov. 2020 Watching country music’s biggest night was anxiety-inducing—and not in a good way. — Angela Watercutter, Wired, "The CMAs Were a Good Reminder to Stick to Zoom Award Shows," 13 Nov. 2020 Billy Joe Shaver, the Texas singer-songwriter whose trenchant, vivid compositions helped launch country music’s outlaw movement in the 1970s, died on Wednesday in Waco, Texas. — Bill Friskics-warren, New York Times, "Billy Joe Shaver, Outlaw Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 81," 29 Oct. 2020 The event featured live country music by Kane Brown, Nitro Circus’ motorcycle stunts, a cigar lounge and Red Bull. — Brandon Lingle, ExpressNews.com, "A Grunt Style Reckoning: A look inside San Antonio apparel maker’s rowdy past, near-death experience and current leadership battle," 8 Oct. 2020 Knowing that the Virginia Beach, VA native loves country music, Weber prepared a surprise live concert for Fuller after spending the day at an amusement park. — Natalie Morin, refinery29.com, "Victoria Fuller Tells The Full Story Behind That Bachelor Chase Rice Date," 10 Sep. 2020 That includes country music, where bands formerly known as Lady Antebellum and The Dixie Chicks decided to remove Southern terms with racist connotations from their names. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, "Dolly Parton Speaks Up About BLM: ‘Of Course Black Lives Matter’," 14 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'country music.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

6 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Country music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/country%20music. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for country music

country music

noun

English Language Learners Definition of country music

: a style of music that developed in the southern and western U.S. and that often contains lyrics relating to the lives of people who live in the country

See the full definition for country music in the English Language Learners Dictionary

country music

noun

Kids Definition of country music

: a style of music that developed in the southern and western United States, that is similar to folk music, and that often has lyrics about people who live in the country