rhythm in which the accompaniment is strict two-four time and the melody, with improvised embellishments, is in steady syncopation.
a style of American music having this rhythm, popular from about 1890 to 1915.
Scott Joplin was a famous composer and performer of ragtime.
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."
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Taking a cue from nickelodeon piano players, composer John Powell steers the mood with a vibrantly eclectic score of sprightly ragtime, violin pathos and popcorn crescendos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
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
Ragtime47 , for example, would hardly be ragtime without the jaunty syncopations in the melody set against the steady unsyncopated bass.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
"Ragtime," which explores the social and economic upheavals affecting non-white people in early 20th century America, received four awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026
‘Nosferatu’ with Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra Elsewhere, Murnau’s classic screens with the orchestra performing the film’s original score live to picture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2022
A role in the original Broadway cast of "Ragtime" soon followed.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2022
Shell’s job is to sleep for 10 years alongside her passengers while Ragtime keeps the ship running, docks at Space Station Lagos for maintenance and proceeds to orbit Bloodroot, the destination planet.
From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2021
He can play Alexander’s Ragtime Band without notes.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
