reggae

[reg-ey]

noun

1. a style of Jamaican popular music blending blues, calypso, and rock-'n'-roll, characterized by a strong syncopated rhythm and lyrics of social protest.

reggae

/ ˈrɛɡeɪ /

noun

1. a type of West Indian popular music having four beats to the bar, the upbeat being strongly accented

reggae

1. A form of pop music that originated in Jamaica, combining elements of calypso and rhythm and blues (see blues) with a strongly accentuated offbeat. Bob Marley was the first internationally known reggae musician.

Word History and Origins

Origin of reggae¹

< Jamaican English, respelling of reggay (introduced in the song “Do the Reggay” (1968) by Frederick “Toots” Hibbert), a dance name based on rege, *strege a dowdy or raggedy fellow; compare rege-rege ragged clothing, quarrel, row

Word History and Origins

Origin of reggae¹

C20: of West Indian origin

Example Sentences

So, I’ve played my son a little bit of reggae and rocksteady, and there’s a heritage of sound that I think I’m passing on.

From Los Angeles Times

Having captured his first photos of Marley in 1973, Morris was there to picture him again when the reggae star returned to London two years later to play a legendary gig at the Lyceum Theatre.

From BBC

If you did a reggae album, you did a reggae album, and if you did a rock album, you did a rock album.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after, Leiffer headed to a Hackney community centre to track down fellow reggae artist Gene Rondo.

From BBC

He noodles on it, playing a mix of Black Sabbath and reggae.

From Los Angeles Times