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

Meanwhile Del Rey and Morgan Wallen will link up as MW and Delta Dawne, hosts of Back Country Radio, which specializes in classic and outlaw country music. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

As Grammy season comes into full swing, one of the biggest questions the Recording Academy will need to wrestle with is how to handle the current surge in popularity for country music. — Alan Light, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

On Friday night, country music duo Dan + Shay will be playing a show at PPG Paints Arena. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The museum, located in Parton's SongTeller Hotel in Nashville, takes visitors from Parton's childhood in rural Tennessee to her rise to the top of country music and Hollywood. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

country music

noun

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