Motown
/ˈmoʊtaʊn/
noun
Origin
English
Motor + Town — The automobile manufacturing city of Detroit
Overview
Meaning Now
- A style of soul music with a distinct pop influence, originating from Detroit.
- A record company (Motown Record Corporation) founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959.
Literal older meaning
Motor Town
Language path
English
Earliest form
Motown
Earliest period
1959
Journey
The name was coined by Berry Gordy Jr. as a tribute to Detroit, Michigan, which was known as the 'Motor City' because it was the center of the American automobile industry. By creating the Motown label, Gordy successfully blended the industrial roots of the city with the sophisticated, radio-friendly sound of R&B and soul.
Evolution
- Early 20th century
Motor City
“Nickname for Detroit due to its automotive industry”
Common parlance
- 1959
Motown
“Name of the record label”
Portmanteau of Motor and Town
- 1960s-present
Motown
“Genre of popular soul music”
Genericized trademark effect
Connections
Word parts
Mot-
root
from Motor
-own
root
from Town
Related words
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Related to Motown
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.