Dance music: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for music that's easy to dance to and is played at parties or social gatherings. It's versatile and can include a variety of subgenres.

• The DJ played some great dance music at the wedding reception.
• I love listening to dance music when I work out.

Specifically refers to music that is popular in nightclubs. It's typically high-energy and designed to get people moving on the dance floor.

• We spent the night dancing to some awesome club music.
• The new club music this DJ plays is outstanding!

A full form of EDM and used in more formal or descriptive contexts when explaining the genre.

• The rise of electronic dance music has changed the club scene globally.
• Electronic dance music emphasizes synthetic beats and loops.

An abbreviation for Electronic Dance Music. This is a broad range of electronic music produced for dance-based entertainment environments such as nightclubs and festivals.

• This year's EDM festival lineup is incredible!
• He loves producing EDM tracks in his free time.

General term for music with strong beats and rhythms made for dancing. It can be used for various dance styles.

• They played dance music at the wedding reception.
• I listen to dance music while working out.

Often abbreviated as EDM, this refers to a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made for nightclubs, raves, and festivals.

• He loves listening to electronic dance music at festivals.
• EDM has many subgenres, like house and techno.

Music typically played in nightclubs, designed to create a party atmosphere. Often has a strong bassline.

• The DJ spun some amazing club music last night.
• Club music gets everyone on the dance floor.

A high-energy form of electronic music played at large parties known as raves. It is often characterized by fast tempos and repetitive beats.

• The rave music kept the crowd dancing all night.
• You need a lot of energy to keep up with rave music.