chanson

noun

chan·​son shän-ˈsȯn How to pronounce chanson (audio)
-ˈsän,
shäⁿ-ˈsōⁿ How to pronounce chanson (audio)
plural chansons
shän-ˈsȯnz,
-ˈsänz,
shäⁿ-ˈsōⁿ(z) How to pronounce chanson (audio)
Synonyms of chansonnext
: song
specifically : a music-hall or cabaret song

Examples of chanson in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spectacular to look at, the production is unfailingly exuberant, a parade of color and catchy chanson. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024 Inside the spell of Diamond Jubilee’s ’60s psychedelic chanson garage-pop there is unbridled romance and hope, yet to consider its obstinately antiquated and luddite qualities in the stark reality of the 2020s is to feel total hopelessness. — Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin cantion-, cantio, from canere

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chanson was circa 1513

Phrases Containing chanson

Browse Nearby Words

chanoyu
chanson
chanson de geste
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chanson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chanson. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chanson

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chanson

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chanson

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