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

Yormark was hired in August 2022, part of a new wave of college sports leaders being poached because of their pro sports experience. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026

With every new wave of technology, the instinct is to replace the stack. — Greg Genung, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Properties such as the Four Seasons have long had a firm footing—add to that a new wave of boutique hotels offering a stronger sense of local identity. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2026

Swilling’s innovation kicked off a new wave of development in Arizona. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 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