noun
kabuki
kuh-BOO-kee
Kabuki (noun) means a traditional Japanese theatre style featuring male actors in elaborate costumes and makeup who perform highly stylised dances, songs, and dramatic gestures. Example: “They watched a kabuki performance in Kyoto with actors in stunning painted masks.”
noun
1
A traditional Japanese theatre style featuring male actors in elaborate costumes and makeup who perform highly stylised dances, songs, and dramatic gestures.
"They watched a kabuki performance in Kyoto with actors in stunning painted masks."
2
An exaggerated, staged display — especially in politics — that looks dramatic but achieves nothing real.
"Critics dismissed the hearing as political kabuki, all performance and no substance."
How to use kabuki
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the classic Japanese theatre art form, or (informally) any showy, hollow performance meant for effect.
Common pairings
kabuki theatre
political kabuki
a kabuki performance
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They watched a _____ performance in Kyoto with actors in stunning painted masks.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Japanese kabuki, a centuries-old form of stylised theatre.
Rhymes for kabuki
See all rhymes for kabuki →Frequently asked questions
What does “kabuki” mean?
The word “kabuki” means a traditional Japanese theatre style featuring male actors in elaborate costumes and makeup who perform highly stylised dances, songs, and dramatic gestures. In plain terms, either the classic Japanese theatre art form, or (informally) any showy, hollow performance meant for effect.
How do you pronounce “kabuki”?
“Kabuki” is pronounced kuh-BOO-kee (/kəˈbuːki/ in IPA).
How do you use “kabuki” in a sentence?
Here is “kabuki” used in a sentence: “They watched a kabuki performance in Kyoto with actors in stunning painted masks.”
What part of speech is “kabuki”?
“Kabuki” is a noun.
Where does the word “kabuki” come from?
The word “kabuki” comes from Japanese. Borrowed directly from Japanese kabuki, a centuries-old form of stylised theatre.
How many meanings does “kabuki” have?
“Kabuki” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional Japanese theatre style featuring male actors in elaborate costumes and makeup who perform highly stylised dances, songs, and dramatic gestures.
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