new wave

noun

variants often New Wave

1

: a cinematic movement that is characterized by improvisation, abstraction, and subjective symbolism and that often makes use of experimental photographic techniques

2

: a new movement in a particular field

3

: popular music less raw than punk rock and typically including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and quirky lyrics

4

: dernier cri

especially : fashion that is strikingly outrageous

new-wave

ˈnü-ˈwāv 

ˈnyü-, 

-ˌwāv

adjective

new waver

ˈnü-ˈwā-vər 

ˈnyü-

noun

Examples of new wave in a Sentence

people who listened to punk, New Wave, or disco

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump threatened Tehran with a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached that includes opening the critical Strait of Hormuz. —Arkansas Online, 6 May 2026

Trump threatened Tehran with a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached that includes opening the Strait of Hormuz. —Joshua Boak, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Creatine for women has moved from gym-bro territory to mainstream wellness, with sales jumping 120% as women drove a new wave of interest. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026

From lemony treats to snacks perfect for picnic season, this month is bringing in a new wave of Trader Joe's snacks and desserts to check out—pun intended, of course. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for new wave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave