jazz

1 of 2

noun

ˈjaz 

often attributive

1

a

: American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre

b

: popular dance music influenced by jazz and played in a loud rhythmic manner

2

: similar but unspecified things : stuff

that wind, and the waves, and all that jazz

—John Updike

3

: empty talk : humbug

spouted all the scientific jazz

—Pete Martin

jazzlike

ˈjaz-ˌlīk 

adjective

jazz

2 of 2

verb

jazzed; jazzing; jazzes

transitive verb

1

a

: enliven

—usually used with up

b

: accelerate

2

: to play in the manner of jazz

intransitive verb

1

: to go here and there : gad

2

: to dance to or play jazz

Synonyms

Noun

• applesauce [slang]
• balderdash
• baloney
• boloney
• beans
• bilge
• blah
• blah-blah
• blarney
• blather
• blatherskite
• blither
• bosh
• bull [slang]
• bunk
• bunkum
• buncombe
• claptrap
• codswallop [British]
• crapola [slang]
• crock
• drivel
• drool
• fiddle
• fiddle-faddle
• fiddlesticks
• flannel [British]
• flapdoodle
• folderol
• falderal
• folly
• foolishness
• fudge
• garbage
• guff
• hogwash
• hokeypokey
• hokum
• hoodoo
• hooey
• horsefeathers [slang]
• humbug
• humbuggery
• malarkey
• malarky
• moonshine
• muck
• nerts [slang]
• nonsense
• nuts
• piffle
• poppycock
• punk
• rot
• rubbish
• senselessness
• silliness
• slush
• stupidity
• taradiddle
• tarradiddle
• tommyrot
• tosh
• trash
• trumpery
• twaddle

Verb

• amp (up)
• animate
• brace
• energize
• enliven
• fillip
• fire
• ginger (up)
• invigorate
• juice up
• jump-start
• liven (up)
• pep (up)
• quicken
• spike
• stimulate
• vitalize
• vivify
• zip (up)

Examples of jazz in a Sentence

Noun

What's all this jazz about you leaving?

She loves hiking, biking, and all that jazz.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Jacobs has long been a supporter of Atkinson’s jazz programming at the Athenaeum and a frequent attendee. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2024

Ultimately, Fearless Movement bolsters Washington’s prowess as a jazz bandleader engaged in cultural and musical curation. —Evan Haga, SPIN, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing jazz

• free jazz
• jazz-rock
• jazz up

Kids Definition

jazz

1 of 2 noun

ˈjaz 

1

: American music marked by lively rhythms with unusual accents and often by melodies made up by musicians as they play

2

: empty talk

don't give me any of that jazz

3

: similar but unspecified things : stuff

jazz

2 of 2 verb

1

: enliven

—usually used with up

2

: to play in the manner of jazz