grunge

noun

ˈgrənj 

1

: one that is grungy

2

: rock music incorporating elements of punk rock and heavy metal

also : the untidy fashions typical of fans of grunge

grunger

ˈgrən-jər

noun

Examples of grunge in a Sentence

I'm a fan of grunge.

I cleared the grunge out of the drains.

Recent Examples on the Web

The color is neutral enough to work with almost any piece in your closet while giving the look a style-forward edge that calls to mind the grunge aesthetic of the ’90s. — Paulina Berges, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2026

For someone with perhaps the most famous grunge lineage of all, Frances Bean Cobain has never needed to labor the reference. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026

The distressed, vintage Elvira tee and oversized, brown leather jacket are spot-on grunge, the super-short lace shorts recall the babydoll vibes of the time, and the white knee-high boots nail the era's obsession with retro mod looks. — Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Sep. 2026

The look was gothic but sharp, leaning into a sort of vampy but feminine aesthetic rather than something that was true grunge. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from grungy

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grunge

• lunge
• plunge
• sponge
• expunge
• muskellunge