alt-rock

noun

ˈȯlt-ˌräk How to pronounce alt-rock (audio)
: alternative rock
alt-rocker
ˈȯlt-ˌrä-kər How to pronounce alt-rock (audio)
noun

Examples of alt-rock 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.
Justin Cary, the bassist for alt-rock band Sixpence None the Richer, has died. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 June 2026 This autumn, though, the feminist alt-rock icons are finally giving us one hell of a sonic supernova. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026 Originally known as the Scuds, the group started off playing pretty standard early Nineties alt-rock. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 Justin Cary, the longtime bassist of the alt-rock band Sixpence None the Richer, died on June 11 of a stroke. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alt-rock

Word History

Etymology

by shortening

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alt-rock was in 1982

Rhymes for alt-rock

See All Rhymes for alt-rock

Browse Nearby Words

Altrincham
alt-rock
altro-heptulose
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on alt-rock

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alt-rock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All