ambient music

noun

1. Also called ambient. a genre of instrumental music that focuses on sound patterns more than melodic form and is used to create a certain atmosphere or state of mind.
2. background music.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambient music¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“Apparently this has been going on for several years, with ambient music and with electronic music and jazz,” said calibuildr, the Redditor who posted the initial thread on r/countrymusic and asked to be identified by their handle.

From Slate

Some shops were decorated with psychedelic art on the walls, beanbags laid out over the floor and ambient music playing; others were little more than just wooden table stalls in the middle of the street.

From Salon

But unlike most morning radio hosts, Dill plays tracks in a mixture of styles that can run the gamut from obscure ambient music to timeworn dad rock.

From New York Times

Eno, who is world renowned as a founding member of Roxy Music and a pioneer of ambient music, is a key part of the project through his EarthPercent charity.

From BBC

It features atmospheric ambient music from Brian Eno and Julianna Barwick as well as ethereal jazz from Alice Coltrane and Amaro Freitas.

From New York Times