noun

Muzak

MYOO-zak

Muzak (noun) means Bland, easy-listening background music, especially the kind played in shops, offices, or lifts. Example: “Tinny muzak played over the supermarket speakers all day.”

noun

Bland, easy-listening background music, especially the kind played in shops, offices, or lifts.

"Tinny muzak played over the supermarket speakers all day."

"The waiting room was filled with dentist-office muzak."

Anything considered dull, undemanding, or droning on in the background.

"His speech was just corporate muzak — pleasant but forgettable."

How to use Muzak

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBackground music so bland it barely registers — or, by extension, anything equally forgettable.

When to use it

Often used dismissively or humorously rather than as a neutral description.

Word forms

Muzaked past tense, Muzaks singular

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Tinny _____ played over the supermarket speakers all day.

Etymology

Originally the brand name Muzak, coined in the 1930s by blending "music" with the "-ak" ending of Kodak, a famous brand at the time.

· First attested 1930

Class of 1930 Muzak joined the language around 1930.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Muzak” mean?

The word “Muzak” means bland, easy-listening background music, especially the kind played in shops, offices, or lifts. In plain terms, background music so bland it barely registers — or, by extension, anything equally forgettable.

How do you pronounce “Muzak”?

“Muzak” is pronounced MYOO-zak (/ˈmjuzæk/ in IPA).

How do you use “Muzak” in a sentence?

Here is “Muzak” used in a sentence: “Tinny muzak played over the supermarket speakers all day.”

What part of speech is “Muzak”?

“Muzak” is a noun.

Where does the word “Muzak” come from?

The word “Muzak” dates back to around 1930. Originally the brand name Muzak, coined in the 1930s by blending "music" with the "-ak" ending of Kodak, a famous brand at the time.

How many meanings does “Muzak” have?

“Muzak” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bland, easy-listening background music, especially the kind played in shops, offices, or lifts.