rock-'n'-roll
noun
a style of popular music that derives in part from blues and folk music and is marked by a heavily accented beat and a simple, repetitive phrase structure.
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rock-'n'-roll
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rock 'n' roll
rock 'n' rollPopular music combining elements of blues (or rhythm and blues), gospel music, and country and western music, and known for its strong beat and urgent lyrics. Well-known early, pioneering rock 'n' roll artists or groups include Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, the Supremes, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley.
rock-'n'-roll
American
[rok-uhn-rohl]
/ ˈrɒk ənˈroʊl /
Or
rock-and-roll,
noun
adjective
verb (used without object)
rock 'n' roll
Cultural
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rock-'n'-roll
1950–55; contraction of phrase rock and roll; see rock 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But however perfect the name, it has nothing to do with some genius of a marketer marrying the then-new rock-’n’-roll craze with the old Victrola record player brand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
On Saturday another will make their mark on Slane's rock-'n'-roll history spanning 40 years as headliner Harry Styles gears up to entertain a crowd of 80,000 for his sold-out show.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2023
Burning Guitars’ collection was bold, brash and too over-the-top for anyone but a rock-‘n’-roll frontman, while Datari Austin used fabrics that came across as a little blasé and — dare we say — cheap.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2017
Julia, I’m curious what you think of Peggy’s rock-’n’-roll entrance to McCann, which reminded me of this and was indisputably awesome.
From Slate ● May 4, 2015
Her new album, “The Firewatcher’s Daughter,” veers into more rock-’n’-roll terrain but still has gentle, cathartic moments of balladry, most notably on the Laurel Canyon-folk-influenced single “The Eye.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2015
It happens to rock ’n’ roll stars every day, and they’re in their grave — there were people in their grave that they were honoring when I went.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
I think about that aspect later in the evening during “Star 69,” which from the outside seems like a simple rock ‘n’ roll song, very loud guitar matched by breathless, insistent loud vocals.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026
No, the Strokes did not save rock ’n’ roll, but the excitement of “Is This It,” fueled by a combination of tense energy and nonchalance, has outlived the initial hype that surrounded its release.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
In We Were Here, the Big Joanie singer and guitarist charts the role of black artists in creating, shaping and transforming rock 'n' roll, punk and alternative music.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Not in a goth sense—none of the black came in the form of lace gloves—but more in a rock ’n’ roll sense.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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