SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

pole dancing

noun

Definition of pole dancing

: usually solo dancing performed while using a fixed vertical pole as a prop

—

pole dance

noun or intransitive verb

—

pole dancer

noun

Recent Examples of pole dancing from the Web

In the accompanying interview, the 34-year-old opened up about wellness, her meticulous acting method and pole dancing with writer Alex Okeowo.

— sam reed, The Hollywood Reporter, "Style Notes: Lupita Nyong'o Aces a Tree Pose for Vogue; Diana's Biographer to Pen Meghan Markle Book," 11 Dec. 2017

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

First Known Use of pole dancing

1994

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pole dancing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

pole-clipt

pole compass

pole dancing

pole effect

pole flounder

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game