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• techno
  techno

  noun

  a style of disco music characterized by very fast synthesizer rhythms, heavy use of samples, and a lack of melody.
• techno-
  techno-

  a combining form borrowed from Greek where it meant “art,” “skill,” used in the formation of compound words with the meaning “technique,” “technology,” etc..

techno

¹ American  

[tek-noh] / ˈtɛk noʊ /

noun

1. a style of disco music characterized by very fast synthesizer rhythms, heavy use of samples, and a lack of melody.

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techno- ² American  

1. a combining form borrowed from Greek where it meant “art,” “skill,” used in the formation of compound words with the meaning “technique,” “technology,” etc..

   technography.

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techno- ¹ British  

combining form

1. craft or art

   technology

   technography

2. technological or technical

   technocracy

3. relating to or using technology

   technophobia

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techno ² British  

/ ˈtɛknəʊ /

noun

1. a type of very fast dance music, using electronic sounds and fast heavy beats

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Etymology

Origin of techno¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Origin of techno-²

Combining form representing Greek téchnē art, skill. See technic

Example Sentences

Around the time Corriveau and Corley were seeing traction with the early iteration of their dual restaurant-and-arcade concept, a cultural phenomenon rose in nascent techno and house scenes of cities from Detroit to Ibiza: raves.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026

Listening stations and touchscreens allow visitors to navigate the full range of styles and eras, although there are notable omissions such as disco, funk, house and techno.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

I would be sad if it sounded like techno, but I’d get used to it.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

And Greece's Akylas had the most kaleidoscopic performance - sliding down a fireman's pole, raiding a bank vault and dancing with a Greek statue during his techno banger, Ferto.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

“Let’s get this party going again, shall we?” he said, dropping a needle on a techno remix of “Atomic” by Blondie.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline