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

“That’s an excellent tasting bean,” said Mr. Maiuri, who stopped by the farm on his way to call a square dance.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2019

It must have looked like we were doing some kind of square dance with me moving around like one foot was nailed to the porch.

From "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis