grunge

[gruhnj]

noun

Slang.

1. dirt; filth; rubbish.

2. something of inferior quality; trash.

   He didn't know good music from grunge.

3. a person who works hard, usually for meager rewards; grind.

4. a style or fashion derived from a movement in rock music: in fashion characterized by unkempt clothing and in music by aggressive, nihilistic songs.

grunge

/ ɡrʌndʒ /

noun

1. slang,  dirt or rubbish

2. a style of rock music originating in the US in the late 1980s, featuring a distorted guitar sound

3. a deliberately untidy and uncoordinated fashion style

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunge¹

1960–65; expressive coinage, perhaps reflecting grime and sludge; sense “grind” perhaps by association with drudge

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunge¹

C20: possibly a coinage imitating _grime + _sludge

Example Sentences

As Britpop rose to prominence in England, grunge was taking hold in America.

From Los Angeles Times

Their hardcore sound combined prog-rock, alternative and grunge - on albums such as Remission, Leviathan and Emperor of Sand - drawing in legions of metal fans and ultimately critical acclaim.

From BBC

Liam's sneering vocals and Noel's distorted guitars brought a rock and roll swagger back to the charts, revitalising British guitar music after an influx of self-serious Seattle grunge.

From BBC

Rzeznik: It wound up working in our favor, but we didn’t fit into the grunge thing, we didn’t fit into the alt-rock thing, we didn’t fit into mainstream music.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, it is endlessly fascinating to see how Hollywood producers visualize a place that scrubbed the grunge movement out of its cultural ecosystem decades ago.

From Salon

Related Words

• filth 
• grease 
• grime 
• soil 
• stain