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Definition of dancehall

dancehall

/ˈdænsˌhɔːl/
dance · hall
Plural:dancehalls
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dancehall Lexical Profile

dancehall Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s, characterized by a DJ singing and toasting (rapping) over danceable, bass-heavy, and often digitally produced reggae rhythms.

Example

"The festival featured several international artists performing reggae and dancehall."

2

A large public hall or establishment where people pay to enter and dance; a dance hall.

Example

"In the 1940s, the neighborhood dancehall was the most popular gathering spot on Saturday nights."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dancehall

Word Nuance & Usage

Usually written as one word ('dancehall') when referring to the Jamaican musical genre, and as two words ('dance hall') when referring to a public venue for dancing.

• Nearby Words

danceable
danceband
dancefloor
dancehall
dancemaker
dancer
dancercise

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 1970s in Jamaica, named after the local dance halls where popular Jamaican recordings were played by sound systems.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dancehall. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dancehall
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