What does jive mean?
Jive is an informal word with roots in jazz culture. As a verb, its best-established meaning refers to dancing to jazz or swing music, especially with a partner. It can also mean speaking teasingly, speaking nonsense, or trying to ingratiate oneself by agreeing with others, as in “just jiving with the boss.” As a noun, jive can denote the dance itself, frivolous conversation, or a mocking attitude. The expression “give me jive” rejects an argument as empty talk. Although strongly associated with African American jazz and popular music, the word has become common in general English, including British usage. Its present-day tone ranges from playful to dismissive: describing someone as “full of jive” suggests joking or evasiveness, while “don’t jive me” demands sincerity. Knowing the word is useful because it links a recognizable dance tradition with a broader pattern of playful, teasing, or strategically agreeable speech.
A form of dance performed to jazz or swing music; also, informally, frivolous or insincere talk.
"They taught us a jive that lasted most of the evening."
The dance sense is countable as “a jive,” while the talk sense is usually uncountable in contemporary usage.
To dance to jazz or swing music, or informally to speak or behave in a frivolous or insincere way.
"The two musicians jived briefly before returning to the stage."
The sense meaning to talk teasingly or insincerely is often derogatory.
Informal and often dismissive: foolish, unserious, or insincere.
"That is a jive excuse for being late."
This use is chiefly informal and somewhat dismissive.
The plural is used mainly for distinct dances or instances of dancing; the sense meaning frivolous talk is normally uncountable.
"The band played several jives for the dancers."
From a swinging jazz dance to dismissing someone’s argument as nonsense, jive can mean both the groove and the bluster.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jive come from?
Jive emerged in American English in the jazz era of the 1930s. Its precise origin is uncertain, although its earliest documented uses are closely associated with jazz music and dancing, and later senses developed from the idea of playful, teasing, or insincere talk. The word has no well-established etymological relationship to standard English words outside its own derivatives.
Related word forms
How jive is actually used
The word is informal and often dismissive when it refers to talk or behavior. Its dancing sense is more specific, while the expression “jive with” can mean cooperate or accommodate someone in an informal, sometimes ingratiating way.
Easily confused with jive
Jive is pronounced like alive, but jive is a verb and noun associated with jazz dance and informal or frivolous talk, whereas alive is an adjective meaning living.