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

Even some karaoke chains now offer single-person booths. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

Hosts who want to go above and beyond may want to hire a DJ or live musicians, or enlist a karaoke company to get guests involved. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025

My dad hosts karaoke every year, and that’s the entertainment part. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 14 Nov. 2025

On one December night that year, Swift and One Direction reportedly enjoyed a karaoke outing together in New York City. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Nov. 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