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 piece was about the old 45 rpm record labels from the jukebox era of rock music.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

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

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

When she created “Hell’s Kitchen,” the jukebox musical loosely based on her early life in Manhattan, Keys drew energy from her deep belief in the project.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 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

A jukebox, chrome coat trees, grainy black-and-white photos on the walls, of real forties diners.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

When he built a home he had wiring installed for 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

Dave Madore owns the arcade and jukeboxes inside the restaurant, where he was supposed to be Wednesday night to fix a jukebox that was on the fritz.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2023

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