new wave

noun

often capitalized N&W

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

Democrats did not get very far into this new wave of 2024 second-guessing before a gunshot rang out in Utah. —W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Together with a new wave of large-scale reactors, this could enable Europe to make nuclear power a key part of its clean energy future. —Anna Heim, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025

Every game convention or Nintendo Direct that came and went without a Silksong update sparked a new wave of jokes, copypasta and elaborate trashposting. —Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

Their differing approaches—one focused on innovation speed, the other on ecosystem harmony—could drive a new wave of foldable growth and competition. —Mark Vena, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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