Foxtrot is a noun referring to the smooth, formal ballroom dance in 4/4 time, or the NATO phonetic alphabet code for the letter F. It denotes elegance, precise footwork, and controlled upper-body posture. In contexts beyond dancing, it can symbolize disciplined movement or a strategy in organizational or military settings.
"During the gala, she performed a flawless foxtrot with flawless balance and grace."
"The dance troupe rehearsed the foxtrot to ensure every step aligned with the music’s four-beat measure."
"In the military’s phonetic alphabet, ‘Foxtrot’ stands for the letter F, helping pilots and radio operators spell commands clearly."
"The instructor emphasized posture and arm etiquette while practicing the foxtrot to prevent strain."
Foxtrot originated in the early 20th century as the name of a ballroom dance that emerged from the fox-trot step pattern popular in American social dancing around 1910–1911. The term ‘foxtrot’ is believed to derive from Harry Fox, a Vaudeville performer credited with popularizing the dance’s steps, or from a fanciful root related to “fox” as a quick, sly animal, reflecting the dance’s lively, swift footwork. The word entered English usage around 1910–1911 and quickly spread to music and dance repertoires, then to military and aviation contexts via the NATO phonetic alphabet. In the phonetic mapping, Foxtrot is used as the code word for the letter F, a role that cemented the term into global usage beyond the ballroom. Over time, the meaning broadened in various contexts to include references to dancing culture, choreography labels, and, informally, a metaphor for a composed, strategic approach to moving through tasks with grace and precision.
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Words that rhyme with "Foxtrot"
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Foxtrot is /ˈfɒk.strɒt/ in British and most Commonwealth accents, and /ˈfɑːk.strɒt/ in some US dialects. The primary stress sits on the first syllable. Pronounce as FOHK-strat, with an initial open back rounded vowel in the first syllable and a shorter, rounded final. Imagine starting with ‘fox’ but drop the s sound into the second syllable. For a quick reference, think: fox + trot, but connect the t.
Common errors include saying ‘fox-trot’ with a hard t release between, producing a disjointed glide, or flattening the first vowel to a short ‘a’ as in ‘cat.’ Correct by ensuring the first vowel is an open o sound /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, and link the syllables with a smooth /str/ cluster without an extra syllable. Keep the final /t/ crisp, not a heavy plosive.
In General American, Foxtrot is /ˈfɒkstrɒt/ with rhotic r absence in the vowel; but some speakers may have /ˈfoʊkstrɒt/ depending on regional vowel shifts. UK and Australian accents generally align with /ˈfɒkstrɒt/ with short front rounded? No; correction: UK: /ˈfɒkstrɒt/, AU: /ˈfɒkstrɒt/. Emphasis remains on the first syllable and the /str/ cluster stays intact. The key differences are in the quality of the vowel in the first and second syllables.
The word combines a challenging initial vowel (open back /ɒ/), a two-consonant blend /kstr/ across syllables, and a final tense /ɒt/ that requires crisp release. Beginners often insert extra vowel between /k/ and /str/ or devoice the final /t/. Focus on maintaining a single smooth onset to each syllable, with the /str/ cluster tightly connected to avoid a broken syllable.
Foxtrot’s first syllable uses a short, open back rounded vowel commonly transcribed as /ɒ/ in British English, which can be swallowed or raised to /ɔː/ in some affected accents. The /k/ immediately pairs with /str/ in the onset of the second syllable, so you should avoid separating /k/ from /str/ and maintain a tight glide to the /str/ blend.
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