demo

¹

[ dem-oh ]

noun

, plural dem·os.

1. demonstration ( defs 4, 6 ).
2. demonstrator ( def 5 ).
3. a recording of a new song or of one performed by an unknown singer or singing group, distributed to disc jockeys, recording companies, etc., to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer.
4. demolition ( def 1 ):

   He does flooring and demo for a living.

verb (used with object)

, dem·oed, dem·o·ing.

1. to try out or exhibit the use of (a product, process, or the like):

   You can demo the game without downloading or buying it.

2. to record (a song) to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer.

Demo

²

[ dem-oh ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural Dem·os.

1. a member of the Democratic Party; Democrat.

demo-

³

1. a combining form occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “people” ( democratic ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( demography ).

demo

¹

/ ˈdɛməʊ /

noun

1. short for demonstration
2. 1. a demonstration record or tape, used for audition purposes
   2. a demonstration of a prototype system
3. short for demonstrator

demo-

²

combining_form

1. indicating people or population

   demography

Word History and Origins

Origin of demo¹

1935–40; by shortening; -o

Origin of demo²

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Origin of demo³

< Greek dēmo-, combining form of dêmos

Word History and Origins

Origin of demo¹

from Greek dēmos

Example Sentences

The attention inspired him to record a demo and eventually to try Nashville a second time.

From Los Angeles Times

You both came up in the “old school” music business, the record company model, shopping demos, big advances and of course, pre-online anything.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the demos have shifted from his computer to the stage.

From Los Angeles Times

Lesley Gore was just a teenager when her vocal demos made their way into Quincy Jones's hands in the early 1960s.

From BBC

I sang it into a tape recorder that I had in the car, and I did a demo and sent it to the director, Joel Schumacher, who I loved working with.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• album
• disk