ragtime

¹ American  

[rag-tahym] / ˈrægˌtaɪm /

noun

Music.

1. rhythm in which the accompaniment is strict two-four time and the melody, with improvised embellishments, is in steady syncopation.

2. a style of American music having this rhythm, popular from about 1890 to 1915.

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Ragtime ² American  

[rag-tahym] / ˈrægˌtaɪm /

noun

1. a novel (1975) by E. L. Doctorow.

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ragtime British  

/ ˈræɡˌtaɪm /

noun

1. a style of jazz piano music, developed by Scott Joplin around 1900, having a two-four rhythm base and a syncopated melody

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ragtime Cultural  

1. A style of early jazz music written largely for the piano in the early twentieth century, characterized by jaunty rhythms and a whimsical mood.

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Discover More

Scott Joplin was a famous composer and performer of ragtime.

Other Word Forms

• ragtimey adjective

Etymology

Origin of ragtime

1895–1900; probably rag(ged) + time

Explanation

Ragtime is a genre of music that was very popular in the early 20th century. The bouncing, energetic rhythms of ragtime were ideal dance music. Ragtime is credited with being the first African-American musical form; jazz, which was strongly influenced by ragtime, followed soon afterward. While distinctions between the two genres vary, ragtime is generally described as piano-based and in duple meter, with two main beats per measure. The syncopated ragtime sound became enormously popular after the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Today, Scott Joplin is probably the most well-known ragtime composer. Ragtime comes from the American dialect word rag, "dance ball."

Example Sentences

In addition to grime, gore and disdain for governments, the ragtime gangsters of “Peaky Blinders” provided a minor education.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Landing on Netflix’s title page for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” automatically plays a clip of the titular psychopath wearing a dress, wig and hosiery while nimbly dancing to a merry ragtime tune.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

The film, with its distinctive ragtime soundtrack, eventually won seven Academy Awards including best picture - although Redford was beaten to the best actor award by Jack Lemmon.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

The “tunes” Andres makes use of in his concerto come from American folk songs, parlor songs, blues and ragtime, and they go through colorful repetitive transformations, embellished by Diehl’s improvisations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2024

I ran toward music, an orchestra playing a ragtime tune.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• melody
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