Sousa

American

[soo-zuh, -suh] / ˈsu zə, -sə /

noun

John Philip, 1854–1932, U.S. band conductor and composer.

Sousa British

/ ˈsuːzə /

noun

John Philip. 1854–1932, US bandmaster and composer of military marches, such as The Stars and Stripes Forever (1897) and The Liberty Bell (1893)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Mare Sousa, 16, said BTS mania is a phenomenon in which "everyone is free to be who they are."

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

John Philip Sousa and his band performed it at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the European leader who made the remark at a conclave of Portugal’s Social Democratic party, was clear and nuanced about what he meant.

From Slate • Sep. 4, 2025

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he "deeply regrets" the "fatalities and serious injuries" caused by the crash.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

And Bunny Corcoran had a habit of playing John Philip Sousa march tunes in his room, at full volume, late at night.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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