beatboxing

American  

[beet-bok-sing] / ˈbitˌbɒk sɪŋ /

noun

1. a musical style or technique, especially in hip-hop, in which the sounds and rhythms of percussion instruments or a drum machine are simulated by using the mouth and voice.

   We heard some amazing beatboxing last night.

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beatboxing British  

/ ˈbiːtˌbɒksɪŋ /

noun

1. a form of hip-hop music in which the voice is used to simulate percussion instruments

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Other Word Forms

• beatboxer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beatboxing

1985–90, beatbox (verb) + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“Drop” opens up with bare-bones looped beatboxing before threading in dramatic melody upon layers of synth and howled refrains.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

In fact, all his communication is done through beatboxing, a conceit that might work better if there weren’t a traumatic backstory attached to it.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2023

As drums vanished, the beat leaped into the body and became tap dance, hip-hop, beatboxing.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

Shlomo, from Fleet, Hampshire, is now drawing on his experience with a show for families, most recently staged in Sussex and Kent, showing how beatboxing can help with children's mental health.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2022

Some kids stood in a little circle out back, beatboxing and freestyling, inventing brand-new ways of putting one another down and sending up wild cheers when a dig found its mark.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older