Grammy

American  

[gram-ee] / ˈgræm i /

noun

plural

Grammys, Grammies

1. one of a group of statuettes awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in various categories in the recording industry.

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Grammy British  

/ ˈɡræmɪ /

noun

1. (in the US) one of the gold-plated discs awarded annually for outstanding achievement in the record industry

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Usage

What are the Grammys? The Grammys is another name for the Grammy Awards, an award ceremony to honor excellence in the music and recording industry. The statuette awarded to winners is called a Grammy. The plural form Grammys is usually used. The Grammy Awards are held by the Recording Academy (formally known as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), whose members include musical artists, producers, songwriters, and engineers. The Grammy Awards honor winners in many different genres and categories, including pop, dance and electronic, R&B, rap, rock, alternative, country, jazz, gospel, instrumental, Latin, classical, spoken word, comedy, and musical theater, among others. Prominent awards include Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for best recorded track), Song of the Year (for best single song composition), and Best New Artist. Winning a Grammy is often considered the music industry’s top honor. The Grammys ceremony often features musical performances by some of the nominated artists and others.

Etymology

Origin of Grammy

gram(ophone) + -y ²

Example Sentences

The Grammy winner was performing her first headlining show at Coachella on Friday night when an audience member suddenly let out a high-pitched cry called a zaghrouta.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The two-time Grammy nominee, whose career spanned nearly eight decades and thousands of recordings, died in Mumbai on Sunday after being admitted to hospital following a heart attack.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Today, Jackson holds five Grammy awards and a slew of other industry accolades.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

"Bieber fever" seems to have returned after a decade and already spread across the Coachella Valley, after the singer made a comeback at the Grammy Awards this year.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Grammy shakes her head again as she pulls into a parking spot, and I turn.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt