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

The singer-producer’s 2025 LP uses the mechanics of hyperpop to make a record that feels like punk rock suffering a full core-reactor meltdown.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

He makes clear that the eventual titans of streetwear were scrappy entrepreneurs who merged graffiti, break dancing, hip-hop, punk rock and skateboarding, all gestures of rebellion they cleverly merchandised.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Couple that with the group’s uncompromising punk rock attitude about their structure and message, and it’s easy to see why Irreversible Entanglements might not fit cleanly into everyone’s preconceived notions about “jazz.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

A 12-year-old girl with a love of punk rock becomes entangled in the case of a local killing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

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

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