dance hall

noun

1
: a large room set aside or suitable for dances
especially : a public hall offering facilities for dancing
2
dancehall
ˈdan(t)s-ˌhȯl How to pronounce dance hall (audio)  
ˈdän(t)s-
 : a genre of Jamaican music derived from reggae in which an artist improvises vocals over a recorded or live beat
… anyone who knew her or worked with her knows that she loves dancehall and has much respect and passion for the genre.—Stephanie K
—often used before another noun
dancehall music
A key form of symbolic capital obtainable in Jamaica is knowledge and possession of many Jamaican dancehall records.—Marvin Sterling

Examples of dance hall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jacaranda trees bloom in purple across the city’s streets and parks, making wandering between neighborhoods in search of milongas (tango dance halls) especially pleasant. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 The New Braunfels, Texas, resident kept a frenetic touring schedule, headlining major Texas venues and mid-sized dance halls around the country, with occasional arena or amphitheater stops opening for Koe Wetzel thrown in. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026 The neighborhood had a diner, churches, and dance halls — but construction of the Crosstown freeway in the late 1960s would lead to an exodus of Filipino residents. — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Humperdinck first met Patricia at a Leicester dance hall in 1956, shortly after returning from military service. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dance hall

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dance hall was in 1845

Rhymes for dance hall

See All Rhymes for dance hall

Browse Nearby Words

dance fly
dance hall
dance music
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dance hall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance%20hall. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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