merengue

American  

[muh-reng-gey] / məˈrɛŋ geɪ /

noun

1. a ballroom dance of Dominican and Haitian origin, characterized by a stiff-legged, limping step.

2. the music for this dance.

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verb (used without object)

merengued, merenguing

1. to dance the merengue.

merengue British  

/ məˈrɛŋɡeɪ /

noun

1. a type of lively dance music originating in the Dominican Republic, which combines African and Spanish elements

2. a Caribbean dance in duple time with syncopated rhythm performed to such music

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Etymology

Origin of merengue

First recorded in 1880–90; from Latin American Spanish merengue, meringue, and probably a special use of Spanish merengue meringue ( def. ), but the semantic development is unclear

Example Sentences

Pulido said the video was a satire and the character was based on a scandal at the time involving merengue singer Elvis Crespo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

The roof of the Jet Set club in the capital Santo Domingo caved in early on April 8, during a concert by merengue star Rubby Perez.

From Barron's • Nov. 8, 2025

Police lieutenant Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte was one of the 231 people killed when the roof of the Jet Set music venue collapsed during a merengue music concert.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025

The Colombian singer released the merengue smash hit at the height of the summer, and it peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

We must have danced back to back at the merengue festival in ’54.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez