karaoke

American  

[kar-ee-oh-kee] / ˌkær iˈoʊ ki /

noun

1. an act of singing along to a music video, especially one from which the original vocals have been electronically eliminated.

---

karaoke British  

/ ˌkɑːrəˈəʊkɪ /

noun

1. 1. an entertainment of Japanese origin in which people take it in turns to sing well-known songs over a prerecorded backing tape

   2. ( as modifier )

      a karaoke bar

---

Etymology

Origin of karaoke

1985–1990; < Japanese, equivalent to kara empty + oke orchestra

Explanation

Karaoke is a type of entertainment where people sing popular songs to prerecorded music. Like the haiku, karaoke was invented in Japan. This form of entertainment is very popular in the United States, where people sing karaoke every day. It's a chance to sing a song you love without having a band: you can just get up and belt it out. Usually, the lyrics are displayed too, so you don't even have to remember the words. A lot of people would probably rather die than sing karaoke, but lots of people can't get enough.

Example Sentences

The wholesome Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes have been taught in classrooms, crooned in karaoke bars and used in U.S.-China diplomacy for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Undeterred by the rain, many have taken musical cruises on the Danube and sang karaoke in the huge fan zone set up in front of the City Hall and aboard trams crisscrossing the city.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Then he's off again, having spotted a Eurovision karaoke booth.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

A karaoke app—a hallmark of Chinese cars—is available for use while driving.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Soon, we’ve settled in a karaoke bar in the heart of the Roppongi district, with men in black suits guarding every entrance and exit.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu