Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hokey-pokey

noun

/ˈhoʊ.ki ˈpoʊ.ki/

Definition

A children’s dance in which participants follow the movements of instructions associated with the lyrics of the song.

Examples

The kids gathered in a circle to do the hokey-pokey at the birthday party.
As the song played, everyone joined in for a lively round of hokey-pokey.
At summer camp, the hokey-pokey was a favorite activity during the evening bonfire.

Meaning

The term can refer to both the dance and the song that accompanies it, often performed in a group setting where participants ‘put in’ and ‘take out’ various body parts in a playful manner.