karaoke

American  

[kar-ee-oh-kee] / ˌkær iˈoʊ ki /

noun

karaokes plural

1. an act of singing along to a music video, especially one from which the original vocals have been electronically eliminated.

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karaoke British  

/ ˌkɑːrəˈəʊkɪ /

noun

1. 1. an entertainment of Japanese origin in which people take it in turns to sing well-known songs over a prerecorded backing tape

   2. ( as modifier )

      a karaoke bar

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• karaokes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of karaoke

1985–1990; < Japanese, equivalent to kara empty + oke orchestra

Explanation

Karaoke is a type of entertainment where people sing popular songs to prerecorded music. Like the haiku, karaoke was invented in Japan. This form of entertainment is very popular in the United States, where people sing karaoke every day. It's a chance to sing a song you love without having a band: you can just get up and belt it out. Usually, the lyrics are displayed too, so you don't even have to remember the words. A lot of people would probably rather die than sing karaoke, but lots of people can't get enough.

Example Sentences

Segments such as James Corden's Carpool Karaoke and Fallon's Wheel of Musical Impressions reflected a new blueprint, where features were invented with online appeal front of mind.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2025

A honky tonk atmosphere meets the queer community when the KFM Country Karaoke Revue gets going at Permanent Records Roadhouse in Glassell Park.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

Potts was previously also known for appearing on shows including Celebs on the Farm, Celebrity Karaoke Club and Celebrity Ghost Trip.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2024

Curveball Karaoke at Lottie’s Lounge is a weekly karaoke hit with Columbia City locals.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2023

Karaoke is itself the Japanese word for embarrassing oneself by singing in front of a room filled with strangers who are only there to laugh at you.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon