karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌker-ē-ˈō-kē 

ˌka-rē-

also

kə-ˈrō-kē  ˌkä-rä-ˈō-(ˌ)kā 

: a device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music

a karaoke machine

also : a form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)

Examples of karaoke in a Sentence

That bar has karaoke on Saturday night.

Recent Examples on the Web

The first is literal — no karaoke, no bands, no DJs. —Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2025

Sing karaoke at the Kimonos Lounge in the nearby Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. —Carlye Wisel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025

Jack eventually started grabbing the God mic from the AD and doing karaoke. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Dec. 2025

End your night at Soundbar with karaoke or cocktails, where locals and visitors blend into one easy crowd. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + ōke, short for ōkesutora orchestra

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karaoke

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky

Kids Definition

karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌkar-ē-ˌō-kē  kə-ˈrō-kē 

: a device that plays music to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music