reggae

noun

reg·​gae ˈre-(ˌ)gā 

ˈrā-

: popular music of Jamaican origin that combines native styles with elements of rock and soul music and is performed at moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat

Examples of reggae in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her resounding vocals melt over the crackly interiors of R&B, reggae, and Jersey club. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026

Take in the joy of a live performance by the NYC Ska Orchestra, which blends big-band jazz, soul, and R&B with the iconic Jamaican music styles of ska, mento, rock steady, reggae, and more. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

And in a pairing that first surprised many music fans, reggae star Shaggy co-stars as the Ferryman. —Ryan Brennan april 14, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026

In the last year, the reggae community has gone through the losses of singer Jimmy Cliff and drummer Sly Dunbar, both key figures from his father’s generation. —Steve Appleford, SPIN, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reggae

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

reggae

noun

reg·​gae ˈreg-(ˌ)ā 

ˈrāg-

: popular music of Jamaican origin that combines native styles with elements of U.S. Black popular music and is performed at moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat