kabuki

American  

[kah-boo-kee, kuh-, kah-boo-kee] / kɑˈbu ki, kə-, ˈkɑ bu ki /

noun

1. popular drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 17th century, characterized by elaborate costuming, rhythmic dialogue, stylized acting, music, and dancing, and the performance of both male and female roles by male actors.

2. Also called Grand Kabuki.  Kabuki. public performances of this type of drama.

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kabuki British  

/ kæˈbuːkɪ /

noun

1. a form of Japanese drama based on popular legends and characterized by elaborate costumes, stylized acting, and the use of male actors for all roles See also No 1

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Usage

What does Kabuki mean? Kabuki is a form of classical theater in Japan known for its elaborate costumes and dynamic acting. The phrases Kabuki theater, kabuki dance, or kabuki play are sometimes used in political discourse to describe an event characterized more by showmanship than by content.

Etymology

Origin of kabuki

1895–1900; < Japanese: originally, as v., to act dissolutely; usually written with phonograms that carry the meanings “song-dance-skill”

Explanation

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese art form involving music, dance, drama, and mime. Kabuki performers in elaborate costumes and makeup act out ancient history and legends. Kabuki performers are almost always men, but it was invented by a woman, a Shinto priestess named Izumo no Okuni. She taught her all-woman troupe to perform movements originally called onna-kabuki, or "woman song and dance." The exaggerated, stylized movement of kabuki inspired a metaphorical meaning in English — a kabuki dance is a kind of political theater in which people pretend to be in conflict but have actually decided on a predetermined outcome. Party conventions are an example of kabuki dance.

Example Sentences

Now practically brothers, the young men are making their name as a well-regarded kabuki duo, but their personalities have begun to diverge.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

Reporting on all this congressional kabuki theater is the equivalent of what in swimming is called a trials and finals meet.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2025

Six hours of kabuki theater later, it’s safe to say nobody is losing their job over this one.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2025

The roots of drag can be traced back to Ancient Greece, Shakespearean times and traditional Japanese kabuki shows, Frank DeCaro told NPR in 2019.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2022

They were always together, a pair of reptilian kabuki creatures at loose in the camp hospital.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston