WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rock-'n'-roll
(rok′ən rōl′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
v.i.
rock′-'n'-roll′er, n.
- Music and Dancea style of popular music that derives in part from blues and folk music and is marked by a heavily accented beat and a simple, repetitive phrase structure.
adj.
- Music and Danceof or pertaining to this music.
v.i.
- Music and Danceto dance to or play rock-'n'-roll.
- 1950–55; contraction of phrase rock and roll; see rock2
'rock-'n'-roll' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
new
- rock and roll
- acid rock
- Beatles
- berry
- big beat
- blues-rock
- boogie
- bubblegum
- country rock
- Diddley
- folk rock
- hard rock
- lewis
- Presley
- punk rock
- R and R
- reggae
- rhythm-and-blues
- rock
- rockabilly
- rock-and-roll
- rocker
- yé-yé
- skiffle
- soft rock
- surfing music