boogie

[ boog-ee, boo-gee ]

noun

1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.
2. boogie-woogie.
3. a lively form of rock 'n' roll, based on the blues.

verb (used without object)

, boog·ied, boog·ie·ing.

1. to dance energetically, especially to rock music.
2. Slang. to go (often followed by on down ):

   We boogied on down to the club to catch the comedy act.

   We're gonna be late—let's boogie.

boogie

/ ˈbuːɡɪ /

verb

1. to dance to pop music
2. to make love

noun

1. a session of dancing to pop music

Word History and Origins

Origin of boogie¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of boogie¹

C20: originally African-American slang, perhaps from Kongo mbugi devilishly good

Example Sentences

I’ll never forget the time one of those dinners segued to the Koreatown karaoke bar Brass Monkey, where later on, the owner felt the need to introduce a certain performance: “Um, this is a first for us, ladies and gentlemen — someone singing something they actually wrote. Allee Willis and ‘Boogie Wonderland!’”

From Los Angeles Times

Bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry grew up together in Macon, Ga., where they played Southern boogie rock, and moved to Athens to attend college at the University of Georgia.

From Los Angeles Times

At a town hall meeting in Oaks, Pennsylvania, this past weekend, the former president, finally even himself grown weary of his words and language and audience questions and answers, opted to just crank out the tunes and, well, boogie down for 39 minutes to a playlist of his own choosing.

From Slate

Kids squeal and laugh as they dive nose-first into the ocean from their boogie boards.

From Los Angeles Times

Her girls, rehearsed within an inch of their lives, knock themselves out doing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drift
• loiter
• meander
• mosey
• ramble
• sashay
• saunter
• stroll
• toddle
• wander