K-pop

noun

ˈkā-ˌpäp How to pronounce K-pop (audio)
: popular music originating in South Korea and encompassing a variety of styles
The opening ceremony, which took place Friday in Pyeongchang, South Korea, featured several songs from notable K-pop artists as teams circled the stadium.—Kimberly Yam

Examples of K-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her sound spans gospel to K-pop, and her collaborator list is already growing and turning heads. — Joshua Cole, CBS News, 22 June 2026 On his new album, only three writers are credited, including himself — which is somewhat of a rarity these days in K-pop. — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 Jungho, the powerhouse vocalist of K-pop group Ateez, made his Paris Fashion Week debut front row at Ami this menswear season. — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 29 June 2026 Lisa rose to fame in 2016 as part of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK with Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for K-pop

Word History

Etymology

short for Korean pop

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of K-pop was in 1999

Rhymes for K-pop

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Browse Nearby Words

kph
K-pop
Kr
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“K-pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/K-pop. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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