scat singing

American  

noun

Jazz.

1. singing in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song, and tries to sound and phrase like a musical instrument.

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Etymology

Origin of scat singing

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Newly christened, she became known for scat singing, a vocal style that originated with ragtime - which enabled her to improvise melodies using her voice as an instrument.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2025

Fitzgerald’s scat singing rivaled the improvisations of instrumentalists.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 16, 2020

In this tribute to jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, Harris and Jakel ricocheted around the stage in perfect synchrony, matching Fitzgerald’s scat singing with their own dazzling, full-body, frequently airborne execution.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2017

Beatboxing, which bears relationships to African click language and American scat singing, emerged about 30 years ago, the province of buskers.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2011

Clearly realising that just extending every song with about six weeks of scat singing wasn't cutting it in an increasingly crowded market, she wheeled out her terrifying secret weapon: interpretative dance.

From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2010