# blues

/ˈbɫuz/ (US) · /blˈuːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blues
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. music genre

noun · CEFR B1

a style of music created by African Americans that often has a slow, sad sound.

For teachers: a musical genre of African-American origin, typically characterised by a twelve-bar structure and the use of flattened or 'blue' notes.

- He spent the evening listening to old blues records in his room.
- The influence of the blues is evident in almost every major genre of modern popular music, from rock and roll to hip-hop.

### 2. feeling sad

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a feeling of sadness or being a little depressed.

For teachers: a state of mild depression or melancholy; usually takes a plural form with the definite article.

- She always gets the Sunday night blues before the work week starts.
- Many people suffer from the winter blues when the days become shorter and the lack of sunlight affects their mood.

### 3. uniforms

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a blue uniform, especially one worn by the police or the military.

For teachers: a dress uniform of a blue colour, specifically those worn by members of the police force or certain branches of the military.

- The officers were dressed in their formal blues for the parade.
- The honour guard appeared in their dress blues, standing in sharp contrast to the civilian attendees at the memorial service.

## Examples

- I always get the Sunday night blues before work.
- After the long holiday ended, she struggled with a mild case of the winter blues.
- The guitarist's performance captured the raw essence of the blues, blending technical precision with a mournful tone that resonated through the crowded hall.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.