alternative rock

noun

: alternative music that blends elements of conventional rock with influences from other musical styles (such as punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk)

Examples of alternative rock 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.
Before, McPherson was known as the frontman of the alternative rock bands Alpha Rev and Flying Colors. Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 As the alternative rock movement gained popularity in the U.S. and Europe, listeners also increased in Latin America, and Soda Stereo embraced it and made the genre its own. Delfina Marchese, Billboard, 19 June 2025 The alternative rock band's lead singer, Ronnie Winter, spoke out against supporters of the controversial president in a fiery video shared on his Instagram page. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 19 June 2025 The singer for the alternative rock band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is looking to make the audiences at their shows great again by making their crowds free of outright MAGA supporters again. Chris Willman, Variety, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative rock

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alternative rock was in 1975

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alternative rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative%20rock. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!