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Synonyms

disc jockey

American  
Or disk jockey

noun

  • disc jockeys
    plural
  1. a person who conducts a radio broadcast consisting of recorded music, informal talk, commercial announcements, etc.

  2. a person who selects, plays, and announces records at a discotheque.


disc jockey British  

noun

  1. DJ, dj. a person who announces and plays recorded music, esp pop music, on a radio programme, etc

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of disc jockey

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45


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:

He started his career as a disc jockey for radio stations in California, and then went on to form a band that included his brother called Sly and the Family Stone.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2025

Mister Cee, a Brooklyn-born disc jockey whose hit radio shows and famed 120-minute mixtapes shaped New York City’s 1990s hip-hop scene, has died at 57.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2024

Mister Cee, a disc jockey who was an integral figure in New York City’s booming 1990s hip-hop scene and was an early champion of the Notorious B.I.G., has died.

From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2024

He credited disc jockey Poppa Stoppa, whose real name was Clarence Hayman, as coming up with the nickname the “Frogman,” which mimicked Fats Domino’s moniker the “Fatman.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

Brenda and the Tabulations, Vonetta, Fern, and I sang “Dry Your Eyes” whenever the disc jockey played it on WWRL.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

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