The story
Blend of sophisticated + pop, coined retrospectively.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: A subgenre of pop music that emerged during the mid-1980s in the United Kingdom, characterized by polished and often mellow or romantic arrangements and the use of synthesizers and other new technology. Full definition →
Blend of sophisticated + pop, coined retrospectively.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.