dance hall

noun

1
: a large room set aside or suitable for dances
especially : a public hall offering facilities for dancing
2
dancehall
ˈdan(t)s-ˌhȯl How to pronounce dance hall (audio)  
ˈdän(t)s-
 : a genre of Jamaican music derived from reggae in which an artist improvises vocals over a recorded or live beat
… anyone who knew her or worked with her knows that she loves dancehall and has much respect and passion for the genre.—Stephanie K
—often used before another noun
dancehall music
A key form of symbolic capital obtainable in Jamaica is knowledge and possession of many Jamaican dancehall records.—Marvin Sterling

Examples of dance hall 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.
In the Industrial Age, young people began relocating to cities for work and enjoyed newfound independence and leisure time; courtship moved from the family parlor to the dance hall. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 Initially built for Austro-Hungarian officers in the 1920s, the hotel was later state-owned by former Yugoslavia, and led a brief life as a dance hall. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026 Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls. — Jamila Robinson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 June 2026 The trailer eventually cuts to Staten (Duhamel) handing her a drink while at Gracie's, their local bar and dance hall. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dance hall

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dance hall was in 1845

Rhymes for dance hall

See All Rhymes for dance hall

Browse Nearby Words

dance fly
dance hall
dance music
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dance hall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance%20hall. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dance hall

Nglish: Translation of dance hall for Spanish Speakers

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