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danceability

danceability

1 4.8
A quality that makes a song easy to dance to because of its beat and rhythm
  • noun
  • /ˌdænsəˈbɪlɪti/
  • Specialized
: bailabilidad
  • The song's high tempo and strong beat give it great danceability, making it perfect for parties.

Examples

  • Many people enjoy music with good danceability because it gets them moving on the dance floor.

  • For some, salsa's power as a Latino music derives from its danceability and long history within Latino communities.

    Academic text (1991)
  • While the danceability of tracks and the lyrical dexterity of the rappers are what determine a track's popularity, in live shows artists and audiences focus on presence and style.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Her favorite tracks are the ones with high danceability, as they always energize the crowd.

Synonyms

grooviness
vsdanceability
  • Archaic
1 7.4

A strong, pleasing rhythm in music that makes people want to dance

is focused on being suitable for rhythmic body movement in social settings

How Danceable

dance music
15 1.4
danceability
  • Specialized
1 4.8
pop
274 1.4
ballad
  • Literature
60 3.7

Surface Forms

danceability singular

Morphology

danceability = danceable (transparent) = dance + able + ity

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to the adjective 'danceable', which itself is transparently 'dance' + '-able'.

Etymology

Danceability joins the simple word dance with the ending -ability, which means 'can be' or 'the power to'. So, danceability literally asks how much a song 'can be danced', which is why it describes the quality that makes music good for dancing.