vaudeville
Vaudeville (noun) means a style of variety theatre made up of unrelated acts — singers, comedians, dancers, acrobats — popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Example: “Many early Hollywood comedians got their start performing in vaudeville.”
How to use vaudeville
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOld-fashioned variety-show theatre with a mix of short acts.
Word forms
vaudevilles plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many early Hollywood comedians got their start performing in _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French vaudeville, originally referring to light satirical songs.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for vaudeville
See all rhymes for vaudeville →Frequently asked questions
What does “vaudeville” mean?
The word “vaudeville” means a style of variety theatre made up of unrelated acts — singers, comedians, dancers, acrobats — popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In plain terms, old-fashioned variety-show theatre with a mix of short acts.
How do you pronounce “vaudeville”?
“Vaudeville” is pronounced VAW-d-vihl (/ˈvɔː.d(ə)ˌvɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vaudeville” in a sentence?
Here is “vaudeville” used in a sentence: “Many early Hollywood comedians got their start performing in vaudeville.”
What part of speech is “vaudeville”?
“Vaudeville” is a noun.
Where does the word “vaudeville” come from?
The word “vaudeville” comes from French. Borrowed from French vaudeville, originally referring to light satirical songs.