jukebox

American  

[jook-boks] / ˈdʒukˌbɒks /

noun

• jukeboxes
  plural

1. a coin-operated phonograph, typically in a gaudy, illuminated cabinet, having a variety of records that can be selected by push button.

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jukebox British  

/ ˈdʒuːkˌbɒks /

noun

1. a coin-operated machine, usually found in pubs, clubs, etc, that contains records, CDs, or videos, which are played when selected by a customer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• jukeboxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of jukebox

1915–20; juke ² ( joint ) + box ¹

Explanation

A jukebox is a machine that plays a song when you insert money. Jukeboxes are pretty rare these days, but you might come across one at, say, an old-fashioned diner. In the 1930s, a juke was a small restaurant where people could eat, drink, and dance. "Juking" meant dancing and getting rowdy. When a music vending machine came along, people called it a jukebox because they could crank up the music and really let loose. Originally, jukeboxes were large, cabinet-style devices that played vinyl records; you could drop in a dime or a quarter and choose your favorite song. These days, jukeboxes have gone digital.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jukebox jukeboxes

The Los Angeles Times described Mold-A-Ramas as “a diabolical cross between a jukebox and a pinball machine” that cost $3,600 apiece, or about $39,500 today.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

What a setback for anyone who saw a childhood ruined by Bucky Dent, or yanks the plug when the jukebox cranks up Billy Joel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

Lunch finished, we settle next to a Wurlitzer jukebox in the corner of the room.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

So instead, Jackson’s family — who largely backed the film — producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua opted to refocus the film more squarely on his music, effectively turning it into a jukebox musical.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 26, 2026

Skeezie: I’m telling you, this place has gone down the toilet ever since they took out the jukebox.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

But he started his business in 1926 and at first it manufactured scales, not jukeboxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

The list consists of more than 200 pages of products ranging from big ticket items such as airplanes to niche imports including jukeboxes, chewing gum and umbrellas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026

Today we all walk around with the equivalent of portable jukeboxes in our hands, able to access virtually every song known to man for ourselves and our children.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2025

We’re talking about a furor unlike anything we’d seen since men with sledgehammers were smashing jukeboxes, trying to kill rock ’n’ roll in the 1950s.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2022

Julie listened, her head swimming in confusion...Daniel, marriage, parkas, tourists, jukeboxes, pinball machines...divorce.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George