disc jockey

1 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly disk jockey

plural disc jockeys also disk jockeys

1

: a person who introduces and plays recorded music (especially popular music) on a show (such as a radio program)

Pervis Spann … was the voice for Black Chicago during his transformative tenure as a disc jockey and owner at WVON.

—The Chicago Tribune

Each Sunday, a zany Los Angeles disk jockey who calls himself Dr. Demento inflicts four live hours of … tunes on the listeners of L.A.'s KMET radio station.

—Betsy Carter and Peter S. Greenberg

called also deejay, DJ

2

: an entertainer who plays and often manipulates recorded music (as by combining tracks or adding effects) for dancing at a night club or party

The duo also hired a disc jockey … who has spun at the club nearly every Friday night since 1991.

—Brittanie Shey

also : someone who makes music (as through turntablism, sampling, etc.) that is often sung or rapped over

Having observed the rise of legendary disc jockeys like Grandmaster Flash and Kool DJ Red Alert firsthand, he [DJ Kay Slay] was inspired to try out the discipline himself.

—Nina Corcoran and Jazz Monroe

Come nightfall, [NFL linebacker Von] Miller works on his disc jockey skills, something he first started doing last season. … He said he had to cancel big plans spinning and scratching during sporting events this offseason.

—Arnie Stapleton

called also deejay, DJ

disc jockey

2 of 2

verb

ˈdisk-ˈjä-kē 

variants or less commonly disc-jockey or disk jockey or disk-jockey

disc jockeyed also disc-jockeyed or disk jockeyed or disk-jockeyed; disc jockeying also disc-jockeying or disk jockeying or disk-jockeying; disc jockeys also disc-jockeys or disk jockeys or disk-jockeys

transitive + intransitive

: to perform the role of a disc jockey : to act as a disc jockey for

Max Media's Chad Evans disc jockeyed the event. He said he had a variety of music ranging several decades queued for the evening.

—Sarah Desantis

[DJ Tom] Joyner transformed radio when he began disc jockeying in the Dallas and Chicago markets.

—Lynn Jones

During spring breaks and vacations in college, she worked at 1360-AM … where she anchored and edited radio shows, wrote commercials, disc-jockeyed and covered Bills training camp …

—Rachel Lenzi

Examples of disc jockey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Gordon Proudfoot was both a lawyer and a disc jockey. —Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023

People of all ages could enjoy games, arts and crafts, family-friendly activities, disc jockey music and community organization tables. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023

Legendary radio disc jockey and concert promoter Art Laboe hosted his famous dance parties at El Monte Legion Stadium. —Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023

Paris Hilton In May 2007, the hotel heiress turned disc jockey was sentenced to 45 days in jail due to violating the conditions of her probation stemming from a slew of traffic violations. —Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 17 Aug. 2023

Degan Boone, a professional disc jockey and music promoter, suggested at the meeting that voters instead should push for a payroll tax on workers who commute from Bryant, Benton, Cabot, Conway and other suburbs outside Little Rock. —Paige Eichkorn, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2023

The festival also features crafters, a disc jockey, a farmers market with produce South Holland Historical Society buys from Big John’s Farm Market & Greenhouses in Chicago Heights, line dancing, quilters, raffles, South Holland Master Chorale, South Holland Municipal Band and woodworking. —Jessi Virtusio, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2023

Through the decades, disc jockeys have evolved from background figures to a creative force shaping hip-hop music and culture. —Osej Serratos, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2023

The British disc jockey and producer took to Instagram on Monday to reveal that he was recently diagnosed with CNS lymphoma, a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the lymph tissue of the brain and/or spinal cord, according to the National Cancer Institute’s official website. —USA TODAY, 5 June 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

disc jockey

noun

variants or disk jockey

: one who conducts and announces a radio show of popular recorded music

also : one who plays recorded music for dancing (as at a party)