Post-punk means: A subgenre that emerged from punk rock in the late 1970s, characterized by experimentation, angular guitars, and heavier influence from art-rock and electronics. Key bands: Joy Division, Wire, The. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
post-punk
A subgenre that emerged from punk rock in the late 1970s, characterized by experimentation, angular guitars, and heavier influence from art-rock and electronics.
poʊst pʌŋkDocumented since 1970s1970sGen XhistoricalCurrent138 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Etymology timeline
Born ~1970 · 1 year of recorded useBoomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
Elevator To Eden by Lives of Angels, drifts through skeletal post-punk, cold synth textures and a distinctly nocturnal mood. Long prized in underground circles, this Dark Entries reissue gives the album the presence i…
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BlueskyMay 2026
Nieuwe single 'Fame’s A Joke And I Forgot The Punchline' van #InlandseMaatjes Triple A: vettige post-punk met knipoog https://damusic.be/dossier/triple-a-fame-s-a-joke-and-i-forgot-the-punchline.html
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BlueskyMay 2026
Laughing Hyenas is the saga of one of the most uncompromising quartets in post-punk’s artistically dubious history. Get Steve Miller's book here: www.jcardpress.com/shop/p/laugh... #laughinghyenas #newsounds #punkr…
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BlueskyMay 2026
PLANET 9 - 001 Broadcasting from the dark side. Post-punk. Coldwave. Darkwave. Indie sleaze. Transmitting from PLANET Nine www.mixcloud.com/SPACEDOGSRAD...
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BlueskyMay 2026
if someone said they didn't get post-punk, what one track would you send them
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Definitions
Global
#1·Apr 26, 2026Global
A subgenre that emerged from punk rock in the late 1970s, characterized by experimentation, angular guitars, and heavier influence from art-rock and electronics. Key bands: Joy Division, Wire, The Fall, Talking Heads.
"Post-punk had a major revival in the 2020s."
Origin: Coined by music critics in the late 1970s; Joy Division's 1979-80 output is foundational; revived heavily 2020s by IDLES, Fontaines DC, Squid, Black Country New Road.
For parents
Post-punk means: A subgenre that emerged from punk rock in the late 1970s, characterized by experimentation, angular guitars, and heavier influence from art-rock and electronics. Key bands: Joy Division, Wire, The. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
post-punk means: A subgenre that emerged from punk rock in the late 1970s, characterized by experimentation, angular guitars, and heavier influence from art-rock and electronics. Key bands: Joy. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Heard in the wild
“Elevator To Eden by Lives of Angels, drifts through skeletal post-punk, cold synth textures and a distinctly nocturnal mood. Long prized in underground circles, this Dark Entries reissue gives the album the presence it always deserved”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Nieuwe single 'Fame’s A Joke And I Forgot The Punchline' van #InlandseMaatjes Triple A: vettige post-punk met knipoog https://damusic.be/dossier/triple-a-fame-s-a-joke-and-i-forgot-the-punchline.html”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Laughing Hyenas is the saga of one of the most uncompromising quartets in post-punk’s artistically dubious history. Get Steve Miller's book here: www.jcardpress.com/shop/p/laugh... #laughinghyenas #newsounds #punkrockhistory #outlawrocknroll #postpunk #addictionstory”
— Bluesky· May 2026“PLANET 9 - 001 Broadcasting from the dark side. Post-punk. Coldwave. Darkwave. Indie sleaze. Transmitting from PLANET Nine www.mixcloud.com/SPACEDOGSRAD...”
— Bluesky· May 2026“if someone said they didn't get post-punk, what one track would you send them”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Show 3 more dictionary-style senses (imported)
Global
#2·May 2, 2026Global
A rock music genre that followed punk rock and was more artistic and experimental, laying the foundations for alternative rock.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Global
#3·May 2, 2026Global
A performer or aficionado of post-punk music.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Global
#4·May 2, 2026Global
After the punk movement.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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