kabuki

[ kah-boo-kee, kuh-, kah-boo-kee ]

noun

1. popular drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 17th century, characterized by elaborate costuming, rhythmic dialogue, stylized acting, music, and dancing, and the performance of both male and female roles by male actors. Compare Nō.
2. (initial capital letter) Also called Grand Kabuki. public performances of this type of drama.

kabuki

/ kæˈbuːkɪ /

noun

1. See No
   a form of Japanese drama based on popular legends and characterized by elaborate costumes, stylized acting, and the use of male actors for all roles See also No 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of kabuki¹

1895–1900; < Japanese: originally, as v., to act dissolutely; usually written with phonograms that carry the meanings “song-dance-skill”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kabuki¹

Japanese, from ka singing + bu dancing + ki art

Example Sentences

Their righteous outbursts represent an ancient and unctuous form of Kabuki theater.

From The Daily Beast

All the moralizing and gravitas that accompanies a star player being arrested should be viewed as a form of Kabuki theater.

From The Daily Beast

Lunch with Peter Kaplan—a ritual as stylized as Kabuki, minus the face paint.

From The Daily Beast

But the first step in this potentially constructive kabuki is positional bargaining.

From The Daily Beast

But in our time of hyperpartisan political kabuki, Paul deserves respect for advancing a serious, principled, substantive debate.

From The Daily Beast

But the Kabuki-za and its yakusha (actors) remained always a plebeian institution.

From Project Gutenberg