emo

American  

[ee-moh] / ˈi moʊ /

noun

1. emocore.

2. a type of guitar-based rock music developed from emocore but having a softer, pop or mainstream sound.

3. 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.

4. a person who is overly sensitive or emotional.

5. emotional display; emotion.

   The storyline had too much emo and not enough substance.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to the type of music called emo or emocore.

   emo albums of the late 1990s.

2. of or relating to a fan of emo, or to the lifestyle, dress, etc., typical of such a person.

   emo teens;

   emo fashion.

3. overly sensitive or emotional.

emo British  

/ ˈiːməʊ /

noun

1. 1. a type of music combining traditional hard rock with personal and emotional lyrics

   2. ( as modifier )

      emo bands

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Etymology

Origin of emo

First recorded in 1985-90; shortening of emocore

Example Sentences

The crowd sings along to pulse-thumping anthems from Britney Spears, Charli XCX and Bad Bunny, with a Paramore sing-along thrown in for everyone’s inner emo babe.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2026

I booked the indie, ska, emo, screamo and pop punk stuff.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Download bills itself as a festival "spanning the full spectrum of rock, metal, punk, emo, hardcore, alternative and classic rock".

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

At other times he’s more like a sympathy-oozing emo rocker, which is how he comes across in real life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Their genre is emo, and its basically a sea of bangs and wristbands and tears.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli