: popular music originating in South Korea and encompassing a variety of styles
The opening ceremony, which took place Friday in Pyeongchang, South Korea, featured several songs from notable K-pop artists as teams circled the stadium.Kimberly Yam

Examples of K-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025 The project — which chronicles the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group comprising three members who just happen to also fight monsters from the underworld — has been a surprise hit for the streamer, and its soundtrack has spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart. Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025 The K-pop star was spotted at Incheon Airport in South Korea in early October, toting a brown leather bag with a Hirono Living Wild-Fight for Joy Plush Doll, which surprisingly hasn’t sold out yet. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025 The film centers on a hugely popular K-pop girl group named Huntr/x, the three members of which are also secret demon warriors. Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for K-pop

Word History

Etymology

short for Korean pop

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of K-pop was in 1999

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Cite this Entry

“K-pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/K-pop. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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