roadie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal
Quick answer
What does “roadie” mean?
A person employed by a touring band or musician to set up, maintain, and transport equipment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person employed by a touring band or musician to set up, maintain, and transport equipment.
1) An enthusiastic amateur or professional who assists with logistics and support for any touring group (e.g., sports teams, theatre companies). 2) (Informal) A person who is a dedicated fan of road cycling. 3) (Australia/NZ, informal) A large serving of takeaway food, especially a coffee in a large cup.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core music industry meaning is identical. The Australian/NZ slang for a large coffee is not used in American English. The cycling fan sense is more common in UK/European contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of a gritty, hard-working, behind-the-scenes lifestyle. In the US, it may more strongly imply a temporary or aspirational job for music lovers.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the larger music touring industry.
Grammar
How to Use “roadie” in a Sentence
roadie for [band/artist]work as a roadiea roadie with [band]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “roadie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He roadied for the band during their UK tour.
- I'm roadying for a local act this weekend.
American English
- She roadied for a famous singer in the 90s.
- He started his career by roadying for indie bands.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts except within the entertainment industry.
Academic
Rare, except in cultural or musicology studies discussing touring culture.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation about music, concerts, or touring.
Technical
Specific term within the live events and music production industry.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “roadie”
- Using 'roadie' to refer to any driver or traveller.
- Spelling as 'rody' or 'road y'.
- Confusing with 'roadster' (a type of car).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A roadie is a paid technical/logistical worker. A groupie is a fan who follows bands, often seeking social/romantic involvement with members.
Yes, informally. To 'roadie' means to work as a roadie or to perform roadie duties (e.g., 'He roadied for us last summer').
A roadie is a broader term for touring support staff, which can include sound engineers. A sound engineer specifically operates audio equipment. All touring sound engineers are roadies, but not all roadies are sound engineers.
Yes. While entry-level roles involve manual labour, experienced roadies are highly skilled technicians (e.g., lighting, sound, instrument repair) crucial to a professional live performance.
A person employed by a touring band or musician to set up, maintain, and transport equipment.
Roadie is usually informal in register.
Roadie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrəʊdi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈroʊdi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"roadie a coffee" (Aus/NZ: to get a large takeaway coffee)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person on the ROAD with a band, and the suffix '-ie' for a person who does that job (like 'groupie').
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS A JOURNEY (support staff are the crew for the journey).
Practice
Quiz
In Australian slang, a 'roadie' can also refer to: