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• roots
  roots

  adjective

  (of popular music) going back to the origins of a style, esp in being genuine and unpretentious
• Roots
  Roots

  (1976) A Pulitzer Prize –winning novel by the African-American author Alex Haley, later made into a popular television drama. It traces a black American man's heritage to Africa, where his ancestors had been captured and sold as slaves.

roots

British  

/ ruːts /

adjective

1. (of popular music) going back to the origins of a style, esp in being genuine and unpretentious

   roots rock

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Roots Cultural  

1. (1976) A Pulitzer Prize –winning novel by the African-American author Alex Haley, later made into a popular television drama. It traces a black American man's heritage to Africa, where his ancestors had been captured and sold as slaves.

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Other Word Forms

• rootsy
  adjective

Example Sentences

The duchy has its roots in medieval, feudal land ownership, but it has been having something of an image make-over, with an emphasis on social value, such as providing affordable housing and protecting the environment.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

“I just looked at it and thought, ’I want to put down roots; I want to have a family,’” she shared.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

As The Ringer continues to expand its roots in Hollywood, the network remains focused on maximizing its content.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

Now I’m pleased to report that celebration is in order—Future has returned to its scrappy, exciting roots.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Other roots lowered to a small cupboard and grabbed a couple of mugs made from hollowed acorns the size of apples.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova