Riot grrrl means: A 1990s feminist punk movement characterized by raw aggressive guitar, feminist politics, and DIY culture. Key bands: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney.. 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.
riot grrrl
A 1990s feminist punk movement characterized by raw aggressive guitar, feminist politics, and DIY culture.
ˈraɪ.ət ɡɜːlDocumented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistorical138 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1990 · no dated citations yetMillennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
#1·Apr 26, 2026
A 1990s feminist punk movement characterized by raw aggressive guitar, feminist politics, and DIY culture. Key bands: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney.
"Riot grrrl reshaped what punk could be about."
Origin: Coined in the early 1990s in Olympia, Washington / DC. The triple-r spelling reclaims the word "girl."
For parents
Riot grrrl means: A 1990s feminist punk movement characterized by raw aggressive guitar, feminist politics, and DIY culture. Key bands: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney.. 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
riot grrrl means: A 1990s feminist punk movement characterized by raw aggressive guitar, feminist politics, and DIY culture. Key bands: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney.. 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.
Cluster: approval
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Show 2 more dictionary-style senses (imported)
#2·May 2, 2026
An underground feminist punk movement and subculture that began in the early 1990s.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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#3·May 2, 2026
A (usually female) member of this subculture.
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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Other words near "riot grrrl" (R)
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