glitter rock

noun

: rock music characterized by performers wearing fanciful costumes and flamboyant makeup : glam rock
When the English pop star Leo Sayer first performed in this country in the mid-1970's, he wore Pierrot makeup and played the role of a sad clown. It was the age of glitter rock, and performers like Elton John and David Bowie were enjoying great success mixing rock with English music-hall theatricality.Stephen Holden

Examples of glitter rock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His honesty and humility about his own ups (his coming out, his advocacy) and downs (drug addiction, tragic loss of friends Princess Diana and Gianni Versace) make this a charming swan song by a glitter rock icon. Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 July 2024 In the first two decades of his career, Alice Cooper seamlessly transitioned from glitter rock to arena rock, New Wave, and even hair metal. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glitter rock was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near glitter rock

Cite this Entry

“Glitter rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glitter%20rock. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on glitter rock

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!