Agency Dictionary

Grunge

nounPronunciation: /ɡrʌndʒ/

In Portuguese: Grunge

Arts, Music & Media

What does “Grunge” mean?

A subgenre of alternative rock characterized by distorted guitar riffs, heavy drumming, angst-filled lyrics, and an unpolished, stripped-down visual aesthetic. Popularized in Seattle, it defined nineties rock culture.

Etymology

A back-formation from the adjective grungy, "dirty, shabby", American slang recorded from the 1960s. The origin of grungy is unknown; it may be a blend of words such as grubby and dingy. Grunge first meant dirt or an untidy person. In the late 1980s it became the name of the rock music of the Seattle scene, with its distorted guitars, and of the worn, careless style of dress that went with it.

Usage note

Used as a noun and before other nouns (grunge band, grunge look). The older sense of dirt survives in informal American English.

Synonyms

Seattle sound

Word family

grungy
grunger
post-grunge

Rhymes with

plunge
lunge
sponge
expunge

Usage examples

Going deeper into that, I do carry a fondness for the early 90s Seattle’s grunge scene and anything that came from it or got directly influenced by it later.

Concept

Grunge MovementThe grunge movement was an alternative rock subculture that emerged in the Pacific Northwest during the late 1980s, merging punk rock ethics with heavy metal distortion…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Creative.7 - Pedro SampaioJuly 17, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
aestheticsnoun: A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
Audiobooknoun: An audio recording of the narration of a book, enabling listening through digital playback devices.
bardnoun: A poet, musician, or storyteller who recites verses celebrating heroic deeds, historical events, and emotional journeys.
Catharticadjective: Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
Conservatoirenoun: A specialized academy or college devoted to the study and master instruction of music or other performing arts.
Guitaristnoun: A musician who plays the guitar with technical skill and artistic interpretation.
Hiatusnoun: A pause or gap in a sequence, activity, or series of creative works. In the music industry, it denotes an indefinite period where a group halts collaborative production.
Incongruousadjective: Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something. In artistic critique, it denotes striking dissonance between tone and theme.
Intertextualitynoun: The complex relationship and dialogue between different texts and cultural expressions. It demonstrates how contemporary works constantly reference, adapt, and transform preceding ideas.
Interviewnoun: A structured conversation where one participant asks questions and the other provides answers, conducted for journalistic publication, academic research, or employment assessment.

Also from these editions: terms

Constraintnoun: A limitation, restriction, or boundary that regulates and shapes a creative or technical process. In digital engineering, constraints turn ambiguity into solvable problem parameters.
Dinosaurnoun: Informally, a person, organization, or established institution that has survived for a long time, sometimes perceived as traditional or resistant to change. In business, it highlights corporate longevity across eras.
Iterationnoun: The repetition of a process or procedure in order to generate an improved version or achieve a desired outcome.
Legendaryadjective: Remarkable enough to be famous, deeply admired, and spoken of like a legend. It characterizes milestone achievements or encounters that leave an enduring impression.
Maestronoun: A distinguished conductor, composer, or master in any art or complex collaborative endeavor. Metaphorically, it describes leaders who coordinate diverse specialists into harmonic unity.
Mockupnoun: A full-scale or realistic model of a design used for demonstration, evaluation, or promotion. In digital product creation, it illustrates interface aesthetics before programming begins.
Packagingnoun: The materials, structural casing, and graphic labeling used to wrap, protect, and market physical commodities. In visual design, it communicates brand values directly at point of touch.
Satiricaladjective: Containing, using, or characterized by satire; employing irony, ridicule, or humor to expose flaws and absurdities. It serves as an incisive rhetorical device in social and design critique.
Titannoun: A person of exceptional strength, intellect, or influence in a particular professional field. In industry discourse, it designates leaders whose achievements set foundational standards.
Vintageadjective: Denoting something from the past of high quality, classic appeal, and recognized historical value. It describes analog goods, timeless aesthetic objects, and period recordings.
Wearablenoun: An electronic device or smart computational accessory designed to be worn comfortably on the human body. Common forms include smartwatches, fitness trackers, and augmented reality headsets.