deejay

American  

[dee-jey] / ˈdiˌdʒeɪ /

noun

Informal.

1. disc jockey.

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deejay British  

/ ˈdiːˌdʒeɪ /

noun

1. an informal name for disc jockey

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Etymology

Origin of deejay

First recorded in 1940–45; pronunciation of initials D.J.

Explanation

If you love deciding which song to play next at a party, you should be a deejay, a person whose job is to choose the music for a radio station, a party, or a club. Deejay or DJ is shorthand for disc jockey, originally spelled disk jockey in the 1940s. Today's deejays don't play shellac discs like the first ones did, but many of them do use vinyl records. Club deejays incorporate audio equipment to seamlessly merge one track into another, and radio deejays may play songs recorded digitally or on records, CDs, and cassette tapes. It's also a verb, so you can offer to deejay your friend's birthday party.

Example Sentences

While the moms roast the nuts with chaat masala and the dads gather ’round the wine, my job is to sync my phone to a bluetooth speaker and play deejay.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2022

And so began a journey into the sacred realm of the bees, a two-hour workshop led by Jordana, a 50-year-old beekeeper, deejay, yoga instructor and single father to his 21-year-old son.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2021

Miller, who moonlights as a fledgling deejay, had grandiose plans for his alter-ego, “D.J. Sauce the Von,” that included club concerts at events such as the Kentucky Derby.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2020

In 2016, she revealed that, while she was dating deejay Calvin Harris, she secretly co-wrote one of his biggest hits under the name Nils Sjöberg.

From Slate • Jul. 31, 2020

Behind the deejay is a ministage where the talent show contestants will perform—right in front of the Darcy house.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• broadcaster
• disc jockey
• newscaster
• reporter