juke joint

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

An informal drinking establishment featuring blues music and dancing; primarily operated by African Americans in the southeastern United States.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

She's black as tar... nappy-headed... She got legs like baseball bats. Her own daddy won't have nothing to do with her. She's no more than a jook-joint Jezebel. She ain't even clean.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “juke joint” mean?

An informal drinking establishment featuring blues music and dancing; primarily operated by African Americans in the southeastern United States.

Is “juke joint” formal or informal?

juke joint is generally slang.