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  • techno
    techno
    noun
    a style of disco music characterized by very fast synthesizer rhythms, heavy use of samples, and a lack of melody.
  • techno-
    techno-
    a combining form borrowed from Greek where it meant “art,” “skill,” used in the formation of compound words with the meaning “technique,” “technology,” etc..

techno

1 American  
[tek-noh] / ˈtɛk noʊ /

noun

  1. a style of disco music characterized by very fast synthesizer rhythms, heavy use of samples, and a lack of melody.


techno- 2 American  
  1. a combining form borrowed from Greek where it meant “art,” “skill,” used in the formation of compound words with the meaning “technique,” “technology,” etc..

    technography.


techno- 1 British  

combining form

  1. craft or art

    technology

    technography

  2. technological or technical

    technocracy

  3. relating to or using technology

    technophobia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

techno 2 British  
/ ˈtɛknəʊ /

noun

  1. a type of very fast dance music, using electronic sounds and fast heavy beats

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of techno1

First recorded in 1985–90

Origin of techno-2

Combining form representing Greek téchnē art, skill. See technic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I would be sad if it sounded like techno, but I’d get used to it.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

"So many companies are getting a massively bad rap for being these techno overlords. What better way to cut through than to create a cute and cuddly, anthropomorphic mascot?"

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Montenegro's Tamara Živković takes a maximalist approach, plonking a Greek Chorus onto a jack-hammer techno beat on Nova Zora.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

There was no loud techno music or gimmickry, only the constant shuffle of people looking for a business opportunity.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

The music is a particularly loud techno song, and she has to nearly scream, “To us!”

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

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