TechnologyAugust 9, 2026

popera

poh-PEH-ruh

Definition

A musical genre or style that blends the catchy, accessible melodies of pop music with the dramatic flair, theatricality, and emotional intensity of opera.

Etymology

The word is a portmanteau formed by combining the words 'pop' and 'opera'. It gained popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to describe crossover artists who bridge the gap between classical vocal styles and mainstream commercial music.

In the news

Mandy Lee uses the term to describe the musical identity of her Cherry Bomb project, which combines bubbling, bright production with oversized, theatrical hooks.

Cherry Bomb Smashes The Algorithm On “Digital Girl”

Read the full article ↗

That Eric Alper

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.