A hootenanny is a freewheeling, improvisatory musical event in the United States, often incorporating audience members in performances. It is particularly associated with folk music.

The meaning of HOOTENANNY is gadget.

HOOTENANNY definition: a social gathering or informal concert featuring folk singing and, sometimes, dancing. See examples of hootenanny used in a sentence.

The latest episode of Slate's podcast Lexicon Valley is a hoot and a half, as I take a look at the origins of hootenanny, a word that emerged from rural America with many meanings before …

Sep 13, 2025 · hootenanny (plural hootenannies) (music) An informal, festive performance by folk singers, often including audience participation with the use of acoustic instruments. coordinate …

hootenanny in American English (ˈhutənˌæni ) US noun Word forms: plural hootenannies Origin: orig. in sense of “dingus,” “thingamajig”; a fanciful coinage

Basically, a hootenanny is an informal party or gathering that sometimes has folk music and carefree dancing. These specific gatherings can range from a small and intimate affair all the …

Definition of hootenanny noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Define hootenanny. hootenanny synonyms, hootenanny pronunciation, hootenanny translation, English dictionary definition of hootenanny. n. pl. hoot·en·an·nies 1. An informal performance …

…fostering the growth of the hootenanny (a gathering of performers playing and singing for each other, often with audience participation) as a characteristically informal and personal style of …