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

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

Square dancing: By my count, around 30 states have official dances, and around 25 of those states have chosen square dance, including Washington.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2022

The flame of Susie and Wayne’s six-decade love affair was sparked at a Saturday night square dance in Wickenburg.

From Washington Times • Dec. 31, 2020

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

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