ear candy

American  

noun

1. Slang. pleasant, melodic pop music.

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Etymology

Origin of ear candy

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“Deadbeat” works well as a studio demonstration and space-filling ear candy, but there isn’t nearly enough happening otherwise to sustain Tame Impala fans for another few years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

Sure, I liked ear candy like “Sugar Magnolia” and “Casey Jones,” but I really didn’t get the band or the cult-like devotion of their fans.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2022

“Downton Abbey” is eye and ear candy of the highest order: rich and delicious, but not especially nutritious.

From Washington Post • Sep. 17, 2019

“It’s ear candy and eye candy at the same time,” he said.

From Washington Times • Oct. 3, 2016

From the scrappy, combative strains of the overture — in which the music seems almost to give up on itself in disgust — you intuit that this is not an evening of ear candy.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2011