noun
vaudeville
VAW-d-vihl
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.”
noun
1
A style of variety theatre made up of unrelated acts — singers, comedians, dancers, acrobats — popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
"Many early Hollywood comedians got their start performing in vaudeville."
"The old theater once hosted vaudeville shows every weekend."
How to use vaudeville
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOld-fashioned variety-show theatre with a mix of short acts.
Common pairings
a vaudeville act
vaudeville performer
vaudeville circuit
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Word forms
- Plural
- vaudevilles
Fill the gap
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Many early Hollywood comedians got their start performing in _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French vaudeville, originally referring to light satirical songs.
Synonyms
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music hall
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.
