contra dance

noun

con·​tra dance ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s How to pronounce contra dance (audio)
variants or contredanse
ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s How to pronounce contra dance (audio)
 also  kōⁿ-trə-ˈdäⁿs
1
: a folk dance in which couples face each other in two lines or a square
2
: a piece of music for a contra dance

Examples of contra dance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Using big on-screen labels, Baker signals as these people enter and exit Lacy’s life — rivals for Janet’s attention — in a pattern that comes to resemble the regional contra dance depicted in the final scene. — Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023 Erin Clark/Globe Staff People dance along with the band Kingfisher, a folk and contra dance group, during PorchFest in Somerville on Saturday. — Lauren Booker, BostonGlobe.com, 14 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

French contredanse, by folk etymology from English country-dance

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contra dance was in 1803

Rhymes for contra dance

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Cite this Entry

“Contra dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contra%20dance. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on contra dance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about contra dance

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