country music

American  

noun

1. 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

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

---

Etymology

Origin of country music

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Not far from the country music playground of downtown Nashville, Armstrong loads his pick-up truck with footballs and sets off for the melting-pot neighbourhood of Antioch.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 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

The sale of Stokes’ property comes months after another very significant milestone in his life: the end of his on-again, off-again relationship with country music star Kelsea Ballerini.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

It sounded like an orchestra fiddle player trying to play country music.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Whiny old country music murmured out of the speakers.

From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart