country music

noun

: music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or of the Western cowboy
especially : popular vocal music characterized by simple harmonies, accompaniment by stringed instruments (such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel), repeated choruses, and often narrative lyrics

called also country, country and western

Examples of country music in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More than 20 artists will play the fourth edition of the two-day country music festival. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The farm's latest maze pays tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton, combining a fall favorite with a celebration of the singer's music and philanthropy. — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 As someone like Dolly that cares really deeply about your values and community, but also wants your art to be heard by all kinds of people on its own terms, is this a challenging time in country music to do both? — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Langley and Green have a long history of working together, with their collaborations becoming some of country music’s biggest hits. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for country music

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of country music was in 1926

Browse Nearby Words

country mile
country music
country of origin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Country music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/country%20music. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

country music

noun
: music coming from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or the Western cowboy

More from Merriam-Webster on country music

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about country music

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