rhythm and blues
noun
: popular music typically including elements of blues and African American folk music and marked by a strong beat and simple chord structure
Examples of rhythm and blues in a Sentence
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Rock 'n' roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, soul, hip-hop, heavy metal — they can all be traced back to the Mississippi Delta in an incredible American journey, one of many USA TODAY is following in honor of the nation's upcoming 250th birthday.
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USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
The umbrella is consistently wide when talking about rhythm and blues — a heavily racialized genre that has historically informed the work of a diverse swath of the world’s biggest pop stars, including Bieber, who has advocated for the Grammys to categorize his R&B-leaning work as just that.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
The rock genre grew out of rhythm and blues, played mostly by Black Americans, and its popularity took off in the 1950s.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
There will be Nashville-style rhythm and blues and country rock on July 17 when singer-songwriter and guitarist Colin Cimmarusti performs.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
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USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
The umbrella is consistently wide when talking about rhythm and blues — a heavily racialized genre that has historically informed the work of a diverse swath of the world’s biggest pop stars, including Bieber, who has advocated for the Grammys to categorize his R&B-leaning work as just that.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
The rock genre grew out of rhythm and blues, played mostly by Black Americans, and its popularity took off in the 1950s.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
There will be Nashville-style rhythm and blues and country rock on July 17 when singer-songwriter and guitarist Colin Cimmarusti performs.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhythm and blues
Cite this Entry
“Rhythm and blues.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhythm%20and%20blues. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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