demo

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music Informal

n. a simple recording of a song made to show what it sounds like, usually before a professional version is made.

n. a preliminary recording of a musical work intended to showcase the composition to labels, producers, or band members.

“The band sent their demo to several record labels hoping to get a contract.”

“While the production on the demo was rough, the raw energy of the performance convinced the producer to sign the group immediately.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · British English

n. a public meeting or march where people protest against something.

n. a public manifestation of dissent or support, typically involving a march or gathering in a public space.

“Thousands of students joined the demo in the city centre to protest the new law.”

“The peaceful demo turned into a tense standoff when the marchers reached the barricades surrounding the parliament building.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Technical

n. a specific group of people in a population, such as a certain age or income level.

n. a specific segment of a population identified by shared characteristics, used primarily in marketing or sociology.

“The new smartphone is designed to appeal to the younger demo.”

“Advertisers are struggling to reach the rural demo, as traditional television campaigns no longer yield the same engagement rates.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to show someone how a product or a piece of software works.

v. to perform a demonstration of a product's features or a system's capabilities for a potential client or audience.

“The sales assistant offered to demo the new coffee machine for us.”

“The engineering team will demo the updated interface during the board meeting to justify the recent budget increase.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · American English

v. to tear down or destroy a building or part of a house.

v. to perform demolition work on a structure or interior fixture.

“We need to demo the old kitchen cabinets before the new ones arrive.”

“The contractor estimated it would take three days to demo the interior walls and clear the debris from the site.”