punk rock

American  

noun

1. 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.

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punk rock British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• punk rocker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of punk rock

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

punk rock

Image: Australian punk rock band Private Function playing one of their last gigs at a party on Gold Street, Melbourne.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Sure, I have delved into hip-hop, punk rock and Balearic music, but my own culture is naturally embedded into my records.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

For years it was a symptom of working to keep up with Warped Tour, a punk rock circus on wheels.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

"We were trying to form a new type of music which used influences from reggae and punk rock and funk and whatever," Panter said.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Black punk rock T-shirts over black, thermal long-sleeved shirts.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell