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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

This year’s routine involved two catchers and, during the finale, a spangled foursome seems to square dance midair.

From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2018

For example, Maryland and Virginia are among at least 20 states honoring milk as their state beverage, square dance as their official folk dance and butterflies as their state insects.

From Washington Post • Sep. 24, 2018

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