cyberpunk

The term is a modern English compound, coined in the early 1980s. The first element, 'cyber-', is a shortening of 'cybernetics', a field named from the Greek 'kybernetes' (steersman), metaphorically extended to the governance of complex systems, and later specifically to computer networks and virtual space. The second element, 'punk', originates from mid-20th century American slang, referring first to a young criminal or hoodlum, later crystallizing around the rebellious, DIY ethos of the 1970s music and fashion subculture. Fused together, 'cyberpunk' literally signifies a "digital rebel," perfectly encapsulating the genre's core themes of high-tech innovation wielded by marginalized individuals operating on the fringes of, or in direct opposition to, a hyper-capitalist societal structure.

Structure: cyber (related to computers/electronic networks) + punk (rebellious, anti-establishment) cyber: From Greek 'kybernetes' (steersman, governor). In English, a combining form denoting computers, information technology, and virtual reality. punk: Origin uncertain, possibly from a criminal slang term. In English, denotes a rebellious, anti-authoritarian attitude and style, often associated with a subculture.