britpop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, journalistic, music subculture
Quick answer
What does “britpop” mean?
A genre of British rock music popular in the 1990s, characterized by catchy melodies, guitar-driven sound, and cultural references to Britain, positioned as a rival to American grunge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A genre of British rock music popular in the 1990s, characterized by catchy melodies, guitar-driven sound, and cultural references to Britain, positioned as a rival to American grunge.
The broader cultural movement, fashion, and attitude associated with the 1990s British indie music scene, emphasizing a celebration or revival of British identity, style, and pop culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Core term in UK cultural history; in the US, it's a more specialized music history term, less ingrained in general cultural memory.
Connotations
UK: Nostalgia, national pride, 90s youth culture, 'Cool Britannia'. US: A specific, somewhat niche, imported music subgenre.
Frequency
High frequency in UK music journalism and retrospectives; moderate to low in general American English, primarily in music-focused contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “britpop” in a Sentence
[the] Britpop of the 1990sa key figure in Britpopthe rise and fall of BritpopVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “britpop” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He has a very Britpop aesthetic, with his parka and spiky hair.
- The album has a classic Britpop sensibility.
American English
- The documentary explored the Britpop sound that briefly crossed over in the States.
- She collects Britpop memorabilia from the 90s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in music industry analysis (e.g., 'The Britpop boom boosted CD sales.')
Academic
Used in cultural studies, musicology, and sociology papers analyzing 1990s British culture.
Everyday
In conversations about music history, 1990s nostalgia, or favourite bands.
Technical
In music journalism, music history texts, and genre classifications on streaming platforms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “britpop”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “britpop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “britpop”
- Using 'Britpop' to refer to any British pop music (e.g., The Beatles, Adele). It is period-specific. Spelling as 'BritPop' or 'Brit Pop'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a defined movement, it peaked in the mid-to-late 1990s. However, its influence continues, and there are occasional revivalist bands. It is now primarily a historical genre.
The most famous rivalry was between the bands Blur and Oasis, framed as a battle for the soul of Britpop, culminating in their singles being released on the same day in 1995.
Yes, while dominated by male bands, groups like Elastica and Sleeper are core parts of the Britpop canon.
Britpop is a specific subgenre of UK indie rock from the 1990s with a strong emphasis on British cultural identity and melodic pop structures. 'Indie rock' is a much broader, international category.
A genre of British rock music popular in the 1990s, characterized by catchy melodies, guitar-driven sound, and cultural references to Britain, positioned as a rival to American grunge.
Britpop is usually informal, journalistic, music subculture in register.
Britpop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪt.pɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪt.pɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BRITain + POP music. The sound that made British guitar pop cool again in the 90s.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURAL MOVEMENT IS A BATTLE (e.g., 'Britpop's war with grunge').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST characteristic of Britpop?