n [ U ]
1. a game, played e.g. at children’s parties, in which people run around a group of chairs while music is played. The number of chairs is always one fewer than the number of people, so that when the music stops the person who cannot find a chair has to leave the game. The winner is the one who manages to sit on the last remaining chair. ➡ note at toys and games .
2. ( fig often disapprov ) a situation in which people or things often change places, or take turns to do something:
Government ministers are expected to engage in musical chairs, moving from one department to another.