country music

American

noun

a style and genre of largely string-accompanied American popular music having roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy music of the West, usually vocalized, generally simple in form and harmony, and typified by romantic or melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica.

country music British

noun

Sometimes shortened to: country. a type of 20th-century popular music based on White folk music of the southeastern US

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of country music

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

country music

Harry Kane and Dan Burn were among the England players who attended a concert of US country music star Ella Langley, but had to leave early to make their curfew.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

He built more than a morning show; he created a gathering place rooted in his deep love for country music and the people behind it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

The country music superstar plans to build on the success of her Dollywood theme park by adding hotels, entertainment venues and even themed gas stations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

And traveling country music fans need to put this on the calendar: Nashville was awarded the 2030 Super Bowl.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Whiny old country music murmured out of the speakers.

From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023