Jazz
/dʒæz/noun
A genre of music characterized by swing, improvisation, and strong rhythmic expression.
Did you know?The word’s earliest history is murky, but by the 1910s it was already a high-energy slang term in American English, and its sudden rise mirrors how black American culture transformed it into a global sound.
Etymological Timeline
Early 20th Century
English
jazz
“Slang for lively energy, pep, or exuberance; later the name of a new musical style.”
1910s
English
jazz
“Used in American slang, especially in relation to music, excitement, and vigor.”
1910s
English
jass
“An early spelling often used in reference to the new music and its dance culture.”
Origin uncertain
English
?
“The ultimate source is uncertain; proposed connections include earlier slang and regional American English forms, but no single origin is securely established.”