punk rock

American

noun

a type of rock-'n'-roll, reaching its peak in the late 1970s and characterized by loud, insistent music and abusive or violent protest lyrics, and whose performers and followers are distinguished by extremes of dress and socially defiant behavior.

punk rock British

noun

Sometimes shortened to: punk. a fast abrasive style of rock music of the late 1970s, characterized by aggressive or offensive lyrics and performance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

punk rocker

noun

Etymology

Origin of punk rock

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

punk rock

The American model is also a musician, known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter of the punk rock band Nasty Cherry, which was formed by Charli XCX.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

The program’s first film will be the documentary “Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt,” which debuted last year at South by Southwest and chronicles the history of the punk rock band.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

Members of the Adolescents, the Vandals and Social Distortion are profiled about their wild contributions to punk rock in new book ‘Tearing Down the Orange Curtain,’ out May 20.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

The punk rock republican says he can be the "Kingmaker" as Plaid Cymru looks to lead the next Welsh government with Rhun ap Iorwerth as first minister.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

“Excuse me, but did I just hear you quit, punk rock girl?”

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023