alternative music
Americannoun
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music that is outside the mainstream and does not conform to the standard type of any genre, often characterized by features such as experimental or intricate instrumentation, layered sound, and reflective, emotional, or socially aware lyrics.
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rock music that departs from classic or mainstream rock, borrowing from or crossing over into other genres, such as punk, heavy metal, electronica, or folk.
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.
There really is a festival for every musical taste - with Download Festival perhaps the most notable among fans of rock and alternative music.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
In his ten years of work, he has become a leading figure in Senegal's alternative music scene, demonstrating that not all of the country's hits have to be in its homegrown Mbalax style.
From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 2026
A BBC TV News report about the chart battle is remembered as the moment when alternative music culture truly broke through to the mainstream.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
The closing of a staple in one of the biggest alternative music communities in the country is a symbol of a dismal state of affairs for a once-thriving scene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
Then, she took me down to the import section and told me about “real” alternative music.
From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
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