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.

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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

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New Wave ² British  

noun

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

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new wave ³ British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• new-wave adjective
• newwaver noun

Etymology

Origin of new wave

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

He won renown as one of the key figures in the new wave of Iranian cinema.

From BBC

“But You Just Woke Me Up” is a midtempo number with a pulse that recalls new wave, and it’s about the difficulty of moving on when you can’t put a relationship behind you.

From The Wall Street Journal

This new wave of study says the revolution is happening in pockets more often than it’s taking hold across whole organizations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Change will require a new wave of leaders with different values and sensibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal

As described by TJ’s, this relish is brimming with “bright, tart, vibrant” flavors that bring “a new wave of relish to Thanksgiving meals everywhere.”

From Salon