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

Her shows have been filled with family, fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 1 July 2025

Beyoncé started a global conversation about Black people’s place in country music—and grossed hundreds of millions of dollars in concert ticket sales—by channeling a rodeo aesthetic for Cowboy Carter. —Valeriya Chupinina, Allure, 27 June 2025

He was born and raised in South Korea, and American country music isn’t that popular there. —Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Great shows are all over From a big country music festival in Santa Rosa to one of the world’s top orchestra performing David Bowie songs, there is a lot to see and hear in the Bay Area this weekend. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 26 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, 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