emo
Americannoun
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a type of guitar-based rock music developed from emocore but having a softer, pop or mainstream sound.
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a fan of emo, especially a person who is overly sensitive, emotional, and full of angst, or who adopts a certain style characterized by dyed black hair, tight t-shirts and skinny jeans, etc.
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a person who is overly sensitive or emotional.
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emotional display; emotion.
The storyline had too much emo and not enough substance.
adjective
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noting or relating to the type of music called emo or emocore.
emo albums of the late 1990s.
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of or relating to a fan of emo, or to the lifestyle, dress, etc., typical of such a person.
emo teens;
emo fashion.
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overly sensitive or emotional.
noun
Etymology
Origin of emo
First recorded in 1985-90; shortening of emocore
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.
For decades, parents were baffled, if not horrified, by their kids’ musical tastes, from rock and hip-hop to emo and metal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Others compile more sedate moments under labels like "gentle tension" or "chill elder emo watching Traitors".
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
If you grew up with this sound, you’ve internalized voices like this to a degree that you barely notice how they connect to rap and emo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Petracca opened up with Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Goin Down” to set the sing-a-long tone before blistering through a set of remixes to songs by beloved emo and pop-punk artists such as Panic!
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
She was goth or emo or whatever they called that look now.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
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