-core

suffix

Denoting a genre of music, especially one influenced by hardcore music.

“rap + -core → rapcore”

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Meanings

suffix
  1. entertainmentDenoting a genre of music, especially one influenced by hardcore music.

    rap + -core → rapcore

    3 more examples

    gloom + -core → gloomcore

    metal + -core → metalcore

    speed + -core → speedcore

  2. broadlyDenoting a genre, movement, subculture, or group.

    nerd + -core → nerdcore (“the most dedicated nerds”)

    3 more examples

    maso(chist) + -core → masocore (“a genre of games where survival and winning are intentionally made extremely difficult”)

    mumble + -core → mumblecore (“an American independent film movement or subgenre, characterised by low-budget production, etc.”)

    homo + -core → homocore (“an artistic and musical movement dealing with issues of sexual and gender prejudice”)

  3. InternetDenoting an aesthetic or vibe.

    norm + -core → normcore

    3 more examples

    cottage + -core → cottagecore

    grandma + -core → grandmacore

    trauma + -core → traumacore

Origin

Back-formation from hardcore (“hardcore punk, a particularly fast and intense form of punk rock”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-core. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-core

MLA

“-core.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-core. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-core,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-core.

Source: -core on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.