Meanings
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA style of music combining elements of jazz and blues, with syncopated rhythms and a strong backbeat, originating among African Americans in the 1940s.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna combination of blues and jazz that was developed in the United States by Black musicians; an important precursor of rock 'n' roll
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
First use appears c. 1924, in Billboard, replacing earlier race music.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 節奏布魯斯 /节奏布鲁斯
- 節奏布魯斯 /节奏布鲁斯 (jiézòu bùlǔsī)rhythm and blues
Esperanto ritmenbluso
- ritmenblusorhythm and blues
Finnish rhythm and blues
- rhythm and bluesrhythm and blues
German Rhythm and Blues
- Rhythm and Bluesrhythm and blues
Japanese リズム・アンド・ブルース
- リズム・アンド・ブルース (rizumu-ando-burūsu)rhythm and blues
Korean 리듬 앤 블루스
- 리듬 앤 블루스 (rideum aen beulluseu)rhythm and blues
Māori puoro ūngeri kōrangaranga
- puoro ūngeri kōrangarangarhythm and blues
Russian ритм-энд-блю́з, ритм-н-блю́з
- ритм-энд-блю́з (ritm-end-bljúz)rhythm and blues
- ритм-н-блю́з (ritm-n-bljúz)rhythm and blues
Swedish rhythm and blues
- rhythm and bluesrhythm and blues
Cite this entry
rhythm and blues. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhythm%20and%20blues
“rhythm and blues.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhythm%20and%20blues. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rhythm and blues,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhythm%20and%20blues.
Source: rhythm and blues on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.