soundtrack

American  

[sound-trak] / ˈsaʊndˌtræk /

noun

soundtracks plural

1. the narrow band on one or both sides of a motion-picture film on which sound is recorded.

2. the sound recorded on a motion-picture film; audio portion of a film.

3. the music or dialogue from a film available on a commercial recording.

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soundtrack British  

/ ˈsaʊndˌtræk /

noun

1. the recorded sound accompaniment to a film Compare commentary

2. a narrow strip along the side of a spool of film, which carries the sound accompaniment

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verb

1. (tr) to provide a continuous accompaniment of sounds, esp music

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• soundtracks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of soundtrack

First recorded in 1925–30; sound ¹ + track

Explanation

The music that a movie is set to is its soundtrack. Some soundtracks are composed and recorded especially for a film, while others are made up of many songs by different musicians. TV shows and video games often have soundtracks too, although the concept started with films. During the silent film era, musicians would sometimes play live music to accompany a movie screening. The origin of the term soundtrack goes back to approximately the same time that the first "talkie," or film with sound (1929's "The Jazz Singer"), was screened for audiences. A recorded album featuring the music from a movie is also called a soundtrack.

Example Sentences

He also tested variable pricing, offering some albums with high demand—including “The Graduate” soundtrack and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bookends”—for a dollar more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

The German and Austrian symphonic and operatic music of the 1930s happens to be the root of the Hollywood soundtrack, created by composers such as Erich Korngold, who fled the Nazis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

The TikTok reel shared on Monday depicts border agents placing people in handcuffs, with Grande's 2024 hit Bye as a soundtrack.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Other names on the soundtrack - which is designed to span several genres - include Stormzy, The Rolling Stones and US rapper Future.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

The sounds of horns honking, more glass breaking, and men chanting make up the soundtrack as we move toward the back.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold