ditty
noun
dit·ty ˈdi-tē 
plural ditties
: an especially simple and unaffected song
Synonyms
- ballad
- jingle
- lay
- lyric
- song
- vocal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Play us a little ditty. sung a little ditty in a minor key
Recent Examples on the Web Ninety seconds was a bit generous — at just 23 seconds, the acoustic ditty from 1969 is the shortest song in the Beatles' catalog, though the quirky tune has become a fan favorite. 
Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 The best way to experience the forgettable ditty is to dive in headfirst. Christie D’zurillastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 Released in 2009, this ditty is partially to blame for a huge influx of never-gonna-make-its vying for scarce rentals, pricing talented local-borns out of their New York neighborhoods. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 20 July 2022 With the audience shouting along, Rodrigo — rocking a silver lame mini-dress — let Imbruglia take the lead before dropping in on the second verse and then happily harmonizing on the pop ditty as the two women bounced back and forth across the stage. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 July 2022 An upbeat ditty out of Brazil advertised a smorgasbord of Mazdas by repeating a single word for 30 seconds. Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 24 June 2022 That all changed one night in 2019, all because of a ditty from a Disney movie. Dawn Ennis, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022 Time and cultural changes wrecked the once-glorious wittiness of the dirty ditty. Gregg Opelka, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2021 People are questioning whether to reconsider their plans while the White House combats vaccine hesitancy by recruiting the a cappella group Pentatonix to perform a punny ditty about boosters. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2021 See More
Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 The best way to experience the forgettable ditty is to dive in headfirst. Christie D’zurillastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 Released in 2009, this ditty is partially to blame for a huge influx of never-gonna-make-its vying for scarce rentals, pricing talented local-borns out of their New York neighborhoods. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 20 July 2022 With the audience shouting along, Rodrigo — rocking a silver lame mini-dress — let Imbruglia take the lead before dropping in on the second verse and then happily harmonizing on the pop ditty as the two women bounced back and forth across the stage. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 July 2022 An upbeat ditty out of Brazil advertised a smorgasbord of Mazdas by repeating a single word for 30 seconds. Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 24 June 2022 That all changed one night in 2019, all because of a ditty from a Disney movie. Dawn Ennis, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022 Time and cultural changes wrecked the once-glorious wittiness of the dirty ditty. Gregg Opelka, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2021 People are questioning whether to reconsider their plans while the White House combats vaccine hesitancy by recruiting the a cappella group Pentatonix to perform a punny ditty about boosters. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English ditee, from Anglo-French dité story, song, from past participle of diter to compose, from Latin dictare to dictate, compose
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing ditty
Kids Definition
ditty
noun
dit·ty ˈdi-tē
plural ditties
: a short simple song
ditty
noun
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment sung a little ditty in a minor key Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ballad
- song
- lyric
- jingle
- hymn
- anthem
- lullaby
- vocal
- carol
- chorus
- cantata
- dirge
- psalm
- medley
- chorale
- serenade
- lay
- paean
- chant
- aria
- canticle
- threnody
- roundelay
- chantey
- blues
- spiritual
- pop
- requiem
- shanty
- madrigal
- chanty
- croon
- glee
- hallelujah
- noel
- rocker
- chanson
- descant
- motet
- lament
- round
- folk song
- remix
- art song
- barcarolle
- standard
- discant
- fight song
- barcarole
- drinking song
- part-song
- torch song
- cover