steampunk

noun

steam·​punk ˈstēm-ˌpəŋk 

: science fiction dealing with 19th-century societies dominated by historical or imagined steam-powered technology

Did you know?

I think Victorian fantasies are going to be the next big thing, as long as we can come up with a fitting collective term for [Tim] Powers, [James] Blaylock and myself. So wrote the science-fiction author K. W. Jeter, credited with coining the term steampunk in 1987 to describe a wave of fantasy novels set in Victorian times and celebrating the technology of the era, much of which was powered by steam. In both name and subject, steampunk is an antithesis to cyberpunk, a genre often noted for featuring computerized, futuristic, or unearthly settings. The popularity of steampunk has since carried over to motion pictures, fashion, and even things like restaurant décor.

Examples of steampunk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Paizo recently released a new version of Guns and Gear which allows Game Masters to add in elements of steampunk with rules for firearms, classes like the gunslinger and inventor, plus ways to build items that blend magic and technology in unique ways. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

One is as a steampunk/Victorian action hero portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 7 Feb. 2025

Spectacular song-and-dance numbers enliven this Netflix original about a down-on-his-luck steampunk inventor who's inspired to recapture his old enthusiasm and creativity. —EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Love Actually director Richard Curtis admits the 'stalker scene' is 'a bit weird' 07 of 20 Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) A Willy Wonka-esque inventor brings magical toys to life in this exuberant Victorian steampunk fable. —EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

steam entry 1 + cyberpunk

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for steampunk

• debunk
• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk

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