English Reference
Noun

jingle

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdʒɪŋɡəɫ/ UK /dʒˈɪŋɡəl/ jin·gle UK spelling jingled, jingles Advertising Music Television

n.a short, catchy tune or song used in a commercial to help you remember a product. It is designed to stay in your head so you think of the brand later.

n.a short, rhythmic, and easily remembered musical phrase or song used in advertising. Often employs simple rhymes and repetitive melodies to enhance brand recall.


SIMPLE

The company's new jingle is very catchy.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing team spent weeks developing a three-second jingle that would be instantly recognizable on both radio and television.

COMPLEX

While visual branding is essential, a well-crafted jingle can create a powerful auditory association that persists in the consumer's memory long after the advertisement has ended.

Usage

Commonly used in the context of marketing and broadcast media.

Stewart said that in the Sunday school minibus that would pick them up, Arday would entertain his peers by singing the jingle from the 90s advert for Baby All Gone dolls.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

The verb, which is older than the noun, is from Middle English gyngle. Onomatopoeic; compare jangle.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English gyngle
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated