Synonyms

rock-'n'-roll

American

[rok-uhn-rohl] / ˈrɒk ənˈroʊl /

Or rock-and-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.

adjective

of or relating to this music.

verb (used without object)

to dance to or play rock-'n'-roll.

rock 'n' roll Cultural

Popular 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.

Other Word Forms

rock-'n'-roller noun

Etymology

Origin of rock-'n'-roll

1950–55; contraction of phrase rock and roll; 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.

“Rock ’N’ Roll,” which he dedicated to Vaclav Havel, explores the rebellious, Dionysian force of popular music, an eternal source of inspiration for him, in a play set partly in Prague during the Communist era.

From Los Angeles Times

And Rock'n'Roll was about the stifling repression of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

From BBC

"I cannot remember now how I got into Rock'n'Roll, I wish I could, I'd do it again. But in the absence of anything to go on I just sort of read the papers, chat to people, hang about and worry about it before I go to sleep."

From BBC

A rock ’n’ roll Gary Cooper, Shepard’s wariness extended beyond his acting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Touring, performing, and rock'n'roll lifestyles have previously been found to lower life expectancy for musicians.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023