elevator music

noun

|Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of elevator music

: instrumental arrangements of popular songs often piped in (as to an elevator or retail store)

See elevator music defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of elevator music from the Web

Don’t make elevator music, don’t make a generic country song.

— kevin williams, chicagotribune.com, "Taylor Swift covered Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September,' and shouldn't have — really," 13 Apr. 2018
In the same way that elevator music is meant to be heard, but not listened to, the halo around this fragrance is subtle and soft, to be passively noticed.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Off-White’s First Fragrance Collection Was Inspired by Elevator Music," 7 Mar. 2018
When something is public, whether a movie, a billboard, or elevator music or a Confederate flag on a pickup truck, there can be an openness, an essence of freedom and nakedness to confront or inspire the issue of the day or the past.

— prince shakur, Teen Vogue, "Artist John Sims Interview," 30 Oct. 2017
Realists sniff at Jukedeck, Amper and similar AI creations, rightly characterizing the current offerings as customized, affordable 21st century elevator music.

— james sammataro, Billboard, "Artificial Intelligence Ushers in the Era of Music Moneyball (Guest Column)," 12 Sep. 2017
But, like elevator music, Justice Kennedy’s smooth tones grated on Justice Antonin Scalia in the two hot-button cases cited by Mr. McGurn.

— WSJ, "Justice Kennedy’s Smooth Talk Didn’t Persuade Scalia," 28 July 2017

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