nu metal

/ˌnjuːˈmɛtəl//ˌnuːˈmɛtəl/

noun

A subgenre of heavy metal music with influences from grunge and hip-hop, often featuring down-tuned guitars, rapped or shouted vocals, DJ effects, and a strong rhythmic focus.

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Meanings

nounnu metal (uncountable)

alternative nu-metal · alternative nü-metal

  1. uncountableentertainmentA subgenre of heavy metal music with influences from grunge and hip-hop, often featuring down-tuned guitars, rapped or shouted vocals, DJ effects, and a strong rhythmic focus.

    Which nu-metal song has rocked your world this year?

    2004, BBC for kidz - nu-metal song of the year
    1 more example

    Nu metal band Korn is back with a big tour, no-name album.

    2007, Post Gazette (Pittsburgh), 1 Aug 2007 (headline) https://web.archive.org/web/20071208125956/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07214/806207-388.stm

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
amvcore

Origin

Sensational spelling of new + (heavy) metal

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic نيو ميتال
  • نيو ميتال (niyū mītāl)heavy metal subgenre
Catalan nu metal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
Dutch nu metal, numetal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
  • numetalheavy metal subgenre
Esperanto nu-metalo
  • nu-metaloheavy metal subgenre
French nu metal, nu-metal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
  • nu-metalheavy metal subgenre
German Nu Metal, Nu-Metal
  • Nu Metalheavy metal subgenre
  • Nu-Metalheavy metal subgenre
Greek nu metal, νιου μέταλ
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
  • νιου μέταλ (niou métal)heavy metal subgenre
Icelandic nýþungarokk, nu metal
  • nýþungarokkheavy metal subgenre
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
Italian nu metal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
Japanese ニュー・メタル, ニューメタル
  • ニュー・メタル (nyū metaru)heavy metal subgenre
  • ニューメタル (nyūmetaru)heavy metal subgenre
Korean 뉴 메탈, 뉴메탈
  • 뉴 메탈heavy metal subgenre
  • 뉴메탈 (nyumetal)heavy metal subgenre
Spanish nu metal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
Turkish nu metal
  • nu metalheavy metal subgenre
Cite this entry
APA

nu metal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nu%20metal

MLA

“nu metal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nu%20metal. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nu metal,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nu%20metal.

Source: nu metal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.