name · noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmjuːzæk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈmjuzæk/
CMU ARPABET:M Y UW1 Z AE0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
Recorded background music characterized by soft, soothing instrumental sounds which is transmitted by wire, radio, or recorded media (originally on a subscription basis) to doctors' offices, shops, and other business premises.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Qualifier: trademark
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aural wallpaper, elevator music, lift music
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Easy listening music, whether played live or recorded, especially if regarded as uninteresting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, often, uncountable
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aural wallpaper, ear candy
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Something (such as speech) regarded as droning on and often boring, or soothing but undemanding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Alternative letter-case form of Muzak (“easy listening music, especially if regarded as uninteresting; something regarded as droning on and often boring, or soothing but undemanding”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To provide (premises, etc.) with Muzak.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, often, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To adapt or reduce (a piece of music, etc.) to the status of Muzak.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, often, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
Alternative letter-case form of Muzak.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
The noun is a blend of music + the letters ak from Kodak, a well-known brand in 1934 when the word was coined by the American inventor, scientist, and soldier George Owen Squier (1865–1934), who developed the original technical basis for the service. The verb is derived from the noun.
Across languages
Translations
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
罐頭音樂 /罐头音乐
(guàntóuyīnyuè)
— type of background music
Finnish:
hissimusiikki
— type of background music
Finnish:
muzak
— type of background music
French:
muzak
— type of background music
Spanish:
muzak
— type of background music
Finnish:
hissimusiikki
— easy listening music, especially if regarded as uninteresting
