karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌker-ē-ˈō-kē 

ˌka-rē-,

also

kə-ˈrō-kē  ˌkä-rä-ˈō-(ˌ)kā 

: a device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music

a karaoke machine

also : a form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)

Examples of karaoke in a Sentence

That bar has karaoke on Saturday night.

Recent Examples on the Web

On a recent Sunday evening in Kanda, several Nissan workers gathered at a small bar near the train station, drinking and singing karaoke. —River Akira Davis, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

The Skin Trade star also would’ve been able to flex his skills during the White Lotus cast’s off-the-clock karaoke parties. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2025

It’s been covered by everyone from Luciano Pavarotti to Mary J. Blige to Alessia Cara; is always a popular karaoke pick; and deserves absolutely every bit of enduring popularity. —Shana Naomi Krochmal, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025

What emerged from the shoot was a rich trove of quotidian snapshots—of boat rides, car treks, markets, a cockfight, a karaoke performance, a mah–jongg game—that subsequently informed, and were eventually grafted onto, Edward and Molly’s story. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + ōke, short for ōkesutora orchestra

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karaoke

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky

Kids Definition

karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌkar-ē-ˌō-kē  kə-ˈrō-kē 

: a device that plays music to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music