Jump To:

• new wave
  new wave

  noun

  a movement, trend, or vogue, as in art, literature, or politics, that breaks with traditional concepts, values, techniques, or the like.
• New Wave
  New Wave

  noun

  a movement in the French cinema of the 1960s, led by such directors as Godard, Truffaut, and Resnais, characterized by a fluid use of the camera and an abandonment of traditional editing techniques

new wave

American  

noun

1. a movement, trend, or vogue, as in art, literature, or politics, that breaks with traditional concepts, values, techniques, or the like.

2. (often initial capital letters) a group of leaders or representatives of such a movement, especially of French film directors of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

3. (often initial capital letters) a largely minimalist but emotionally intense style of rock music, being an outgrowth of punk rock in the late 1970s, typified by spare or repetitive arrangements, and emphasizing energetic, unpolished performance.

---

New Wave ¹ British  

noun

1. Also known as: La Nouvelle Vague. a movement in the French cinema of the 1960s, led by such directors as Godard, Truffaut, and Resnais, characterized by a fluid use of the camera and an abandonment of traditional editing techniques

---

New Wave ² British  

noun

1. rock music of the late 1970s, related to punk but more complex: sometimes used to include punk

---

new wave ³ British  

noun

1. a movement in art, film-making, politics, etc, that consciously breaks with traditional ideas

---

Other Word Forms

• newwaver
  noun
• new-wave
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of new wave

First recorded in 1955–60

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

new wave New Wave

The new wave of AI filmmakers have accepted the rise of AI as inevitable, and are forging ahead, increasingly in Culver City.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

As presented here, “My Aim Is True” is every bit as explosive and exciting as the original release, an album that featured a clever blend of punk, rockabilly, pop and new wave sounds.

From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026

Admitting the government has not done enough in recent years to prevent gender-based violence, he announced a new wave of measures to help protect women and girls.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

One moment we are in the midst of one of the great investment booms of all time, with a new wave of technological innovation creating unimaginable wealth for some and supercharged growth for all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

One enterprising rock critic has tried to solve the problem simply by calling his music a cross between the British new wave music of the 1980s and hip-hop.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

“I’m thankful for the huge cultural impact that the Queer New Wave had — I’m so proud to be a part of it,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

"I think rap is getting gentrified," he told New Wave magazine.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026

She also inspired French New Wave directors like Jean-Luc Godard, who chose her to star in what would become one of his most critically acclaimed films, “Contempt.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025

In the latter, I play actress Jean Seberg in a film on the making of the French New Wave classic “Breathless.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

He could get back to New Wave in November, after he got his driver's license.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---