ditty
Americannoun
plural
ditties-
a poem intended to be sung.
-
a short, simple song.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
Etymology
Origin of ditty
1250–1300; Middle English dite < Anglo-French, Old French dit ( i ) e poem, noun use of past participle of ditier to compose < Latin dictāre; dictate
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.
It has even inspired an options market ditty: When the VIX is high, it’s time to buy; when it’s low, it’s time to go.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
The record opens with a spirited British vaudeville-esque rendition of an original ditty called “Everywhere it’s Christmas,” which informs the listener that “Everywhere it’s Christmas/at the end of every year.”
From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025
The 18th-century artwork, appropriately named “Purrquoise” by fans in an online poll, was shown dancing across images of other feline figures, to the nearly 20-year-old ditty “The Kitty Cat Dance.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025
Their silly ditty has more than 47 million views on TikTok; for a brief moment on some online streaming charts, Barbara beat out Beyoncé.
From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2024
I think his shortcoming increased his appreciation; he loved it all indiscriminately—Beethoven, the latest love ditty, jazz, a hymn—it was all profoundly musical to Phineas.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
