new wave

noun

often capitalized N&W

1

: a cinematic movement that is characterized by improvisation, abstraction, and subjective symbolism and that often makes use of experimental photographic techniques

2

: a new movement in a particular field

3

: popular music less raw than punk rock and typically including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and quirky lyrics

4

: dernier cri

especially : fashion that is strikingly outrageous

new-wave

ˈnü-ˈwāv 

ˈnyü-

-ˌwāv

adjective

new waver

ˈnü-ˈwā-vər 

ˈnyü-

noun

Examples of new wave in a Sentence

people who listened to punk, New Wave, or disco

Recent Examples on the Web

Fortunately, meeting the couple was the beginning of a new wave of healing. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025

Denver is forecast to see up to 90 hours of below-freezing temperatures this week as a new wave of arctic air and snow hits the city. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025

And a new wave of breweries, coffee shops and spas are hoping to bring traffic back to the storefronts on Broadway. —Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2025

Current and former Jordanian leaders say the influx of a new wave of Palestinians would pose an existential threat to the country and destabilize the Hashemite dynasty represented by Abdullah and his ancestors. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1