Emo

Pronunciation

• US enPR: ēʹ-mō IPA: /ˈi.moÊŠ/

Origin

Abbreviation of emocore.

Full definition of emo

Noun

1. (uncountable, music, early 1990s) A particular style of hardcore punk rock
2. (countable, early 1990s) An individual or group of people associated with that subculture and musical style.
3. (uncountable, music, late 1990s-current) Any form of guitar-driven alternative rock that is particularly or notably emotional
4. (countable, late 1990s-current) An individual or group of people associated with a fashion or stereotype of that style of rock.
5. (countable, 2000s) A young person who is considered to be over-emotional or stereotypically emo.

Adjective

1. (often pejorative) Emotional; sensitive.
2. (informal, often pejorative) Depressed.
• 2008, Vanity Fair (issue 578)Criticism drapes a black velvet cape across the puddle that interrupts the path to change, to be emo about it.
3. Associated with youth subcultures embodying emotional sensitivity.
• 2007, James A. Reinking, Robert Von Der Osten, Strategies for successful writingThe one thing everyone agrees on is that they've never encountered a band that claimed to be emo.
• 2012, Megan Bostic, Never EighteenTrevor looks kind of emo, rail thin, dark hair, guyliner, wears black all the time.

Derived terms

• emotard

Anagrams

• EOM, Moe, moe, moé, OEM