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dancehall

American  
[dans-hawl, dahns-] / ˈdænsˌhɔl, ˈdɑns- /

noun

  1. ragga.


dancehall British  
/ ˈdɑːnsˌhɔːl /

noun

  1. a style of dance-oriented reggae, originating in the late 1980s

"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

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.

Bieber and Ed Sheeran’s breezy dancehall bro-down was clearly modeled on the sound — and the success — of Sheeran’s “Shape of You.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

“Company,” a reggae tune with a guest appearance from Jamaican dancehall vocalist Buju Banton, gives Ms. Lennox an opportunity to try on a sing-song melodic guise and it suits her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Local stars such as Samini - considered to be the "godfather" of Ghanaian dancehall - and Reggie Rockstone will also play at major events later this month.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

It’s a genre that emerged from people combining hip-hop, dancehall reggae and all manner of Latin American genres, like salsa and merengue.

From Salon • Oct. 15, 2025

The hustler had said he was aware that the Muslims were holding an all-black bazaar at Rockland Palace, which is primarily a dancehall.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey