disco

1 of 3

noun

dis·​co ˈdi-(ˌ)skō How to pronounce disco (audio)
plural discos
Synonyms of disconext
1
: a nightclub for dancing to live and recorded music
2
: popular dance music characterized by hypnotic rhythm, repetitive lyrics, and electronically produced sounds

disco

2 of 3

verb

discoed; discoing; discos

intransitive verb

: to dance to disco music

disco-

3 of 3

combining form

see disc-

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.

Examples of disco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The friends and lovers go to the top floor of the big mall for karaoke at the lounge with the leopard-print walls and mirrors and disco balls. Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026 The colorful, disco-leaning set was fittingly introduced by actor Ryan Gosling, who hosted the previous week’s episode, during which Styles made a surprise cameo in the monologue. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
From floral appliqué styles that mirror spring’s blooms to disco ball-like sequins, these statement shoes are made to be noticed. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025 There were jazz clubs and discos in lofts in SoHo and other places. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disco

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for discotheque

First Known Use

Noun

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disco was in 1957

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Cite this Entry

“Disco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disco. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

disco

noun
dis·​co
ˈdis-kō
plural discos
: a nightclub for dancing to music

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