# grunge

/ˈɡɹəndʒ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈʌndʒ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grunge
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a style of rock music from the 1990s with a heavy, dirty sound. It also refers to a fashion style that uses messy, loose, or worn-out clothes.

For teachers: a subgenre of alternative rock characterized by distorted guitar sounds and angst-filled lyrics, or the associated fashion aesthetic featuring unkempt, layered clothing.

## Examples

- He loves listening to 90s grunge bands.
- The fashion show featured a modern take on grunge, with models wearing oversized flannel shirts and ripped denim.
- Emerging from the Pacific Northwest, grunge fundamentally altered the landscape of popular music by rejecting the polished artifice of 1980s hair metal in favor of a raw, authentic sound.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an uncountable noun when referring to the music genre or fashion style.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.