jazz

noun, often attributive \ ˈjaz \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Definition of jazz

1 a : American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre

b : popular dance music influenced by jazz and played in a loud rhythmic manner

2 : similar but unspecified things : stuff

that wind, and the waves, and all that jazz
—John Updike

3 : empty talk : humbug

spouted all the scientific jazz
—Pete Martin

—

jazzlike

play \ˈjaz-ˌlīk\ adjective

See jazz defined for English-language learners

See jazz defined for kids

Examples of jazz in a Sentence

What's all this jazz about you leaving?
She loves hiking, biking, and all that jazz.

Recent Examples of jazz from the Web

Oatman, who played with the school jazz band for his senior year, spoke of the skill of improvisation and its importance in both music and life in general.

— melanie savage, Courant Community, "RHAM Graduates 267," 3 July 2018
Alyssa was nominated by her music teacher, Ray Modia, and has been a vocalist in the school’s jazz band for three years.

— adrianne richardson, miamiherald, "Students get $1.000 scholarships from Commission for Women," 2 July 2018
Municipal band concert The Naperville Municipal Band will present its jazz band in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 29 June 2018
The Jim Madritsch Band, a classic jazz band, plays July 12, Steve Beguhn, a pop/indie artist, performs July 19 and Steve Meisner, a polka artist, will be playing July 26.

— hannah kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "21 Things-to-do in the southwest suburbs in July," 29 June 2018
Arena stages are a rewarding achievement for the guitarist who once was a member of the jazz band at Dublin Coffman High School (not to mention Buckeye rock band Lionel the Jailbird).

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "5 ways Harry Styles charted his own course in Indianapolis," 28 June 2018
More information, including a link to buy tickets for the 10 a.m. jazz brunch with music from the Jim Cullum jazz band, is available at alamobeer.com/fatherfest.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Father’s Day pairs best with a great beer," 14 June 2018
During the event, local youth and church groups, poets and a jazz band will perform, and African-American dignitaries will speak on the history and significance of Juneteenth.

— laura latzko, azcentral, "Weekend fun: Juneteenth, build a robot with Dad, watch 'Grease' outdoors," 13 June 2018
Revelers took over some three floors of the hotel, with many dancing the night away to the tunes of a live jazz band in the grand ballroom.

— maria ward, Vogue, "Inside the Official Tony Awards After-Party at the Plaza," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jazz.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of jazz

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1913

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

jazz Synonyms

Synonyms

balderdash, baloney (also boloney), beans, bilge, blarney, blather, bosh, bull [slang], bunk, bunkum (or buncombe), claptrap, drivel, folderol (also falderal), folly, foolishness, fudge, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hooey, humbug, humbuggery, malarkey (also malarky), moonshine, nonsense, piffle, poppycock, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, stupidity, tommyrot, trash, trumpery, twaddle;

Near Antonyms

levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness;

common sense, horse sense, sense;

discernment, judgment (or judgement), wisdom;

absurdness, craziness, madness, senselessness, witlessness;

monkey business, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery;

gas, hot air, rigmarole (also rigamarole);

double-talk, hocus-pocus;

jazz

verb

Definition of jazz

jazzed; jazzing; jazzes

transitive verb

1 a : enliven —usually used with up

b : accelerate

2 : to play in the manner of jazz

intransitive verb

1 : to go here and there : gad

2 : to dance to or play jazz

See jazz defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of jazz from the Web

Fans were even more jazzed about director Scott Derrickson signing on to the project shortly following his very entertaining entry into the Marvel universe, Doctor Strange.

— emma stefansky, HWD, "Director Scott Derrickson Leaves Snowpiercer TV Series Over Showrunner’s “Radically Different Vision”," 1 July 2018
As the ripe backyard fruit tree branches hang low, consider jazzing up your summer drink menus, too.

— claire perez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Claire's tip of the week: Say cheers to mango cocktails," 8 June 2018
But, not everyone is too jazzed about this upcoming collaboration.

— refinery29.com, "When Sesame Street Sues You, Get Yourself A Puppet Lawyer," 28 May 2018
Frim Fram Four will jazz up Idaho Shakespeare Festival Greenshows this season .

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "Pack your picnic basket: Idaho Shakespeare Festival brings Stephen King, ABBA and more | Idaho Statesman," 23 May 2018
The center is also expanding its messaging with new graphics jazzed up with input from behavioral science.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "New hurricane center chief kicks off season with familiar warning: be prepared," 1 June 2018
Fruit recipes for holidays, festive fruit, sweet dishes for your holiday table Here are some ways to jazz up holiday meals with fruit: Throw diced apples into your stuffing to add moisture and flavor.

— Indianapolis Star, "RECIPES: Fruit Recipes for the Holidays," 18 May 2018
They're also jazzed about the announcement that new Pardon My French merch is on the way.

— kat bein, Billboard, "DJ Snake Announces 'Magenta Riddim,' New Music Coming Soon," 20 Feb. 2018
New this year to Bike the Drive is the Active Trans 30 Mile Challenge and custom rider numbers—a way to jazz up your race day materials during the registration process.

— rianne coale, RedEye Chicago, "5 things to do in Chicago this weekend," 25 May 2017

First Known Use of jazz

1915

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

See Words from the same year

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JAZZ Defined for English Language Learners

jazz

noun

Definition of jazz for English Language Learners

: a type of American music with lively rhythms and melodies that are often made up by musicians as they play
: meaningless or foolish talk
: similar things