DJ

1 of 3

noun

plural DJs
: disc jockey
When they [the Beatles] arrived in the U.S. in 1964, John Lennon spent his first night in New York in his hotel room, calling up radio DJs and asking them to play the Ronettes.Rob Sheffield
A hip-hop DJ's roles can be multi-faceted: finding the music for dancing, playing the popular tracks, being the rapper's background band, having, maintaining, and providing the equipment, producing the beats, and not least improvising instrumental solos.Kjetil Falkenberg Hansen
sometimes used as a title in the stage names of disc jockeys
Jeffrey Allen Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, is a producer, deejay and actor …Greg Bishop

DJ

2 of 3

verb

DJed also DJ'd; DJing; DJs

transitive + intransitive

: to perform the role of a disc jockey : to act as a DJ for
Snoop Dogg has revealed that he turned down [an] offer to DJ a party for Michael Jordan.Will Lavin
The distinctiveness of DJing in hip hop started with the development of adroit techniques on two turntables.Patrick Rivers
There was a festive vibe as [Herman] Matfes DJ'd the event with fun Hanukkah and holiday music.Lani Mustacchi
… Paris Hilton DJed a New Year's Eve party on her own virtual island this year.Brad Thomas

DJ

3 of 3

abbreviation

1
district judge
2
doctor of jurisprudence
3
dust jacket

Examples of DJ in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The coaching staff will also have the opportunity to work with wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. Chantz Martin, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025 The diner-loving gov should break bread with DJ, my breakfast sandwich guy in lower Manhattan who’s been hanging on since the pandemic hollowed out the five-day-a-week office culture. Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025 Every team will have a player development coach: Andrew Wade (Laces), DJ Sackmann (Lunar Owls), Phil Handy (Mist), Adam Harrington (Phantom), Nola Henry (Rose), Teresa Weatherspoon (Vinyl). Julia Poe, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025 The Liberty’s arena host, DJ Ria, emceed Unrivaled. Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for DJ 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of DJ was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near DJ

Cite this Entry

“DJ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DJ. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

DJ

noun
ˈdē-ˌjā
often not capitalized

More from Merriam-Webster on DJ

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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