mazurka
noun
ma·zur·ka
mə-ˈzər-kə 
-ˈzu̇r-
-ˈzu̇r-
variants
or less commonly mazourka
1
: a Polish folk dance in moderate triple measure
2
: music for the mazurka or in its rhythm usually in moderate ³/₄ or ³/₈ time
Examples of mazurka in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tharp disassociates Beethoven’s rhythmic and melodic structures from their 1820s roots, finding the piece jazzy enough for a jitterbug and folksy enough for a mazurka.
—
Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The national dances are a riot of color, yellow for the Neapolitan, blue for the csárdás, red for the mazurka.
—Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2022
Variation after variation test every tool these dancers have, layered over with waggish character dancing pulling from Polish mazurka and Russian hopak, to name a few.
—Lauren Warnecke, chicagotribune.com, 4 Mar. 2022
The concert will be directed by Christian McKee and feature holiday favorites, a Scott Joplin rag, a Bach cantata and a Yuletide mazurka from Italy.
—oregonlive, 15 Dec. 2021
The final movement was a feisty dance, like a Russified Chopin mazurka, with spiraling runs and bursts of chords, played by Mr. Trifonov with fire and élan, though not a trace of showiness for its own sake.
—New York Times, 28 Nov. 2019
People could dance to a Chopin mazurka, minding the cobblestones of course.
—David Coggins, Town & Country, 10 Dec. 2015
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The national dances are a riot of color, yellow for the Neapolitan, blue for the csárdás, red for the mazurka.
—Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2022
Variation after variation test every tool these dancers have, layered over with waggish character dancing pulling from Polish mazurka and Russian hopak, to name a few.
—Lauren Warnecke, chicagotribune.com, 4 Mar. 2022
The concert will be directed by Christian McKee and feature holiday favorites, a Scott Joplin rag, a Bach cantata and a Yuletide mazurka from Italy.
—oregonlive, 15 Dec. 2021
The final movement was a feisty dance, like a Russified Chopin mazurka, with spiraling runs and bursts of chords, played by Mr. Trifonov with fire and élan, though not a trace of showiness for its own sake.
—New York Times, 28 Nov. 2019
People could dance to a Chopin mazurka, minding the cobblestones of course.
—David Coggins, Town & Country, 10 Dec. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Mazurka.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mazurka. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mazurka
noun
ma·zur·ka
mə-ˈzər-kə
-ˈzu̇r-
1
: a fast Polish folk dance
2
: music for the mazurka
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share