Word
vaudeville
Phoneticsvaude·ville
US/ˈvɑdvɪɫ/
UK/vˈɔːdəvˌɪl/
Definition
n. a type of old-fashioned theater show that includes many different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy. It was very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
n. a style of theatrical entertainment consisting of a series of short, varied acts, including music, dance, and comedy. Historically significant as a precursor to modern variety shows and musical theater.
Examples
“The theater was famous for its vaudeville performances.”
“During the early twentieth century, vaudeville was the primary form of popular entertainment for middle-class audiences across the United States.”
“The transition from vaudeville to the modern musical was marked by the increasing integration of narrative structure and the rise of the cinematic medium.”
Examples
simple
“The theater was famous for its vaudeville performances.”
contextual
“During the early twentieth century, vaudeville was the primary form of popular entertainment for middle-class audiences across the United States.”
complex
“The transition from vaudeville to the modern musical was marked by the increasing integration of narrative structure and the rise of the cinematic medium.”
Real-World Examples
“Few can say with confidence that the jobs destroyed will be replaced by new kinds of activity – as vaudeville theatres were replaced by Hollywood, for example.” “After several years paying their dues on the lowest rungs of the cultural ladder, their monkey business would make them the toast of vaudeville, Broadway and, later, Hollywood.” Etymology
Borrowed from French vaudeville.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
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englishreference.com/q/vaudeville