dance hall

noun

1
: a large room set aside or suitable for dances
especially : a public hall offering facilities for dancing
2
dancehall
ˈdan(t)s-ˌhȯl How to pronounce dance hall (audio)  
ˈdän(t)s-
: a genre of Jamaican music derived from reggae in which an artist improvises vocals over a recorded or live beat
… anyone who knew her or worked with her knows that she loves dancehall and has much respect and passion for the genre.Stephanie K
often used before another noun
dancehall music
A key form of symbolic capital obtainable in Jamaica is knowledge and possession of many Jamaican dancehall records.Marvin Sterling

Examples of dance hall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Weathers is currently touring heavy in Texas, with an April date at Gruene Hall highlighting a run of Lone Star State dance halls and bars. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026 The building that houses this establishment has hosted gambling, cockfighting, a gallery, a dance hall, and even boxing matches once refereed by Ernest Hemingway himself. Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 Hill Country gems like Wimberley offer swimming holes and scenic overlooks, while historic spots like Gruene invite visitors to dance the night away at its legendary dance hall—the oldest in the state. Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026 Though just touring the building would have been exciting enough, on Saturday night Studio One — Abbey Road’s biggest space, typically used for recording film soundtracks — was transformed into a dance hall. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dance hall

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dance hall was in 1845

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Cite this Entry

“Dance hall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance%20hall. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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