barn dance

noun

: an American social dance originally held in a barn and featuring several dance forms (such as square dancing)

Examples of barn dance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In short, the 2024 Convention was a formidable exercise in party discipline: a calculated blend of lockstep and barn dance, such as the Democrats, right now, can only dream of. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024 Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024 Barry explained that jigs were different than barn dances and peasant music, that music and dancing were the religion of their grandparents and that musicians played for the dancers. Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 Here, rates include meals and all beverages; horseback riding; guided hiking, biking, and fly-fishing; kids' and teens' programs; evening barn dances and rodeos; and shuttle service to and from Steamboat Springs. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2023 Those instruments moved guitar music out of the parlor and onto the porch—and to the barn dance, the blues session, the bluegrass jam, the union rally, the coffeehouse, and the civil-rights protest—and what might be called the century of the guitar was under way. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 This stunning spring treat is dressed up and ready to go to all your favorite places, whether that's a barn dance, a bridal shower, or just an extra special treat for friends. Torie Cox, Country Living, 27 Feb. 2023 The headliner will also play a barn dance on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Nave. Anchorage Daily News, 26 Jan. 2023 Radio stations were abandoning barn dance-style programs. New York Times, 31 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barn dance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barn dance was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near barn dance

Cite this Entry

“Barn dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barn%20dance. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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