disco

noun dis·co \ ˈdis-(ˌ)kō \

Definition of disco

plural discos

1 : a nightclub for dancing to live and recorded music

2 : popular dance music characterized by hypnotic rhythm, repetitive lyrics, and electronically produced sounds

See disco defined for English-language learners

See disco defined for kids

Recent Examples of disco from the Web

Dressed in a shimmering disco top, makeup artist Anthony Nguyen created the glittery smoky eye to match, while hairstylist Peter Savic gave her a retro blonde wig with bangs.

— marissa desantis, Teen Vogue, "Halloween 2017: Best Celebrity Hair and Makeup Looks," 30 Oct. 2017
Clooney looked like a true disco-dancing diva, complete with a big wig, glittery makeup, huge hoop earrings, large sunglasses, and a gorgeous beaded dress.

— rosemary donahue, Allure, "Amal Clooney's '70s Halloween Hair and Makeup Was So Good, She Should Make It Her Every Day Look," 29 Oct. 2017
Just take it from Beck, who surprised fans in June 2015 with amorous new song Dreams, a euphoric blast of skittering drums and disco-funk guitars.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "Beck dances back with vim and vigor on long-delayed album 'Colors'," 10 Oct. 2017
The last comparable crackdown on homosexuals in Egypt was in 2001, when police raided a floating disco called the Queen Boat.

— NBC News, "Rainbow Raids: Egypt Launches Its Widest Anti-Gay Crackdown Yet," 6 Oct. 2017
And that tragedy came after a series of other shootings that targeted crowds where music was the social glue: 89 killed at an Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan theater in Paris in 2015; 39 at a disco in Istanbul last New Year’s Eve.

— dan deluca, Philly.com, "A mass shooting that strikes at the heart of American pop culture," 2 Oct. 2017
Colorful drinks served in plastic pineapple mugs match the tropical atmosphere: disco tunes, retro-chic furniture, and potted plants galore.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "Your New Favorite Rooftop Bar Has Arrived in DTLA," 24 Oct. 2017
No surpise why: Its swaying feel and melodies stood strong against the disco and dance tracks on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

— jeff benjamin, Billboard, "Bee Gees' 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks," 24 Oct. 2017
Mazar — who’s as delightfully candid offscreen — talked to the Cut about her disco workouts, training for a new role, and staying energetic.

— debi mazar as told to gabriella paiella, The Cut, "Debi Mazar on Disco Workouts and Getting Her Life Together," 5 Oct. 2017

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

Did You Know?

A style of dance music that arose in the mid-1970s, disco (short for discotheque), is characterized by hypnotic rhythm, repetitive lyrics, and electronically produced sounds. Disco evolved largely from New York underground nightclubs, in which disc jockeys would play dance records for hours without interruption, taking care to synchronize the beats so as to make a seamless change between records. Artists such as Donna Summer, Chic, and the Bee Gees, had hits in the genre, which peaked with the release of the film Saturday Night Fever (1977). Disco faded after 1980, but its influence, especially its sequenced electronic beats, still affects much of pop music.

Origin and Etymology of disco

short for discotheque

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1963

See Words from the same year

disco

verb

Definition of disco

intransitive verb

: to dance to disco music

Recent Examples of disco from the Web

Zendaya channeled her inner ‘70s disco Barbie on Monday (August 7) evening, attending Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Event wearing an ombré pink sparkly pantsuit by designer Vivetta.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Zendaya Wears a Pink Sequined Suit on the Red Carpet," 10 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of disco

1976

disco-

combining form

Definition of disco-

— see disc-

DISCO Defined for English Language Learners

disco

noun

Definition of disco for English Language Learners

: a nightclub where people dance to recorded popular music
: a type of popular dance music

Learn More about disco

Spanish Central: Translation of disco Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about disco

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Origin and Etymology of disco

disco

Definition of disco

Recent Examples of disco from the Web

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disco-

Definition of disco-

DISCO Defined for English Language Learners

disco

Definition of disco for English Language Learners

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disco

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Origin and Etymology of disco

disco

Definition of disco

Recent Examples of disco from the Web

First Known Use of disco

disco-

Definition of disco-

DISCO Defined for English Language Learners

disco

Definition of disco for English Language Learners

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