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• square dance
  square dance

  noun

  a dance by a set of four couples arranged in a square or in some set form.
• square-dance
  square-dance

  verb (used without object)

  to perform or participate in a square dance.

square dance

¹ American  

noun

1. a dance by a set of four couples arranged in a square or in some set form.

2. hoedown.

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square-dance ² American  

[skwair-dans, -dahns] / ˈskwɛərˌdæns, -ˌdɑns /

verb (used without object)

square-danced, square-dancing

1. to perform or participate in a square dance.

2. to participate in a hoedown.

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square dance British  

noun

1. any of various formation dances, such as a quadrille, in which the couples form squares

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verb

1. (intr) to perform such a dance

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• square dancer
  noun
• square-dancer
  noun
• square dancing
  noun

Etymology

Origin of square dance¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Origin of square-dance²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Then he led a large group in the “casino circle,” a sort of Latin square dance that originated in Havana in the 1950s.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Smith made her stage debut during her senior year of high school at a local square dance, where she earned $3 for performing a cover of the pop standard “My Happiness.”

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2021

She is best-known for playing banjo and autoharp in the Original Orchard Grass Band, an outfit that prefers old songs and up-tempo square dance instrumentals.

From Washington Times • Jun. 10, 2019

TUE View of fireworks, barbecue dinner, square dance lessons, movie for kids, 6:30 p.m.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2017

Behind me the radio plays square dance music from the Maritimes, Don Messer and His Islanders, in preparation for the six o’clock news.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood