cyberpunk

[ sahy-ber-puhngk ]

noun

1. science fiction featuring extensive human interaction with supercomputers and a punk ambiance.
2. Slang. a computer hacker.

cyberpunk

/ ˈsaɪbəˌpʌŋk /

noun

1. a genre of science fiction that features rebellious computer hackers and is set in a dystopian society integrated by computer networks
2. a writer of cyberpunk

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyberpunk¹

First recorded in 1980–85; cyber- ( def ) + punk ¹

Example Sentences

He offered a suggestion: “Oh, God, I saw this film, you should absolutely watch this, this sort of slick, cyberpunk thriller you’ll love.’

From New York Times

An assassin who attacks Adam at a gas station is outfitted in a cyberpunk ensemble; another is a feral Aussie with huge mutton chops.

From Los Angeles Times

Lots of reviews noted that reading “Your Face” is like real-life cyberpunk, and by dint of the subject matter, it is — but it’s also more than that.

From Los Angeles Times

Nestled near the top of a sugar maple tree was a Eurasian magpie nest that resembled a cyberpunk porcupine, with thin metal rods sticking out in every direction.

From New York Times

He is currently finishing his fourth title; a cyberpunk meets western speculative fiction novel that explores the concepts related to a shattered nation after a neofascist takeover and second civil war.

From Salon