country music

noun

: music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or of the Western cowboy
especially : popular vocal music characterized by simple harmonies, accompaniment by stringed instruments (such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel), repeated choruses, and often narrative lyrics

called also country, country and western

Examples of country music in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Gerardi said that Kansas City has historically been a great market for country music, with Stapleton and Brooks & Dunn selling out and high attendance for Tyler Childers, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026 Lily Balkcom has country music fans buzzing with her latest Instagram post. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Throughout that evening, the country music community and fans joined to celebrate Jackson’s nearly 40 years of making country music hits. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026 Brooks, country music’s bellwether showman for nearly 40 years and counting, opted for self-deprecation. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for country music

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of country music was in 1926

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Cite this Entry

“Country music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/country%20music. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

country music

noun
: music coming from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or the Western cowboy

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