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

If demand outstrips supply, rolling blackouts would create a new wave of political anger. — Justin Worland, Time, 25 July 2026

Fronted by Armstrong in 2018, the Coverups play a handful of shows per year rooted in punk, power pop, new wave and classic rock favorites with an ever-changing lineup and the occasional surprise guest. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 24 July 2026

The damage was contagious, spreading outward to Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia and the chip complex, and compounded this week by jitters over a new wave of powerful Chinese open-weight models. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 July 2026

The Build-To-Sell Wave Proves The Point A new wave of founders is doing this on purpose. — Terdawn Deboe, Forbes.com, 23 July 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