cyberpunk
cyberpunk Lexical Profile
cyberpunk Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A subgenre of science fiction set in a lawless, dystopian future dominated by oppressive megacorporations, ubiquitous computer technology, cybernetic body modifications, and marginalized social rebels.
"William Gibson's novel Neuromancer is widely considered a foundational work of cyberpunk."
A character in cyberpunk fiction, or a real-life computer hacker or subcultural enthusiast, who uses advanced digital technology to rebel against established social and corporate norms.
"The story's protagonist is a streetwise cyberpunk who infiltrates corporate data networks for a living."
• adjective
Relating to or characteristic of the cyberpunk genre or its futuristic, high-tech, and dystopian aesthetic.
"The video game's neon-drenched streets and corporate-controlled megacities create an immersive cyberpunk atmosphere."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1980 by American science fiction writer Bruce Bethke as the title for a short story (published in 1983), combining cyber- (from cybernetics) with punk, and later popularized by editor Gardner Dozois to describe the emerging literary movement led by William Gibson.