# rockabilly

/ˈɹɑkəˌbɪɫi/ (US) · /ɹˈɒkɐbˌɪli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rockabilly
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a type of fast, lively rock music from the 1950s that mixes country and blues, with strong guitar and a beat you can dance to.

For teachers: a style of early rock-and-roll from the 1950s that combines country music with rhythm and blues, marked by fast tempo, twangy electric guitar and upright bass.

## Examples

- They play rockabilly every Friday at the local bar.
- The festival celebrates 1950s culture with vintage cars, dancing, and live rockabilly bands.
- Although it faded from the charts by the 1960s, rockabilly kept its influence alive through revival movements that prized its raw energy and simple sound.

---

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.