impressionism

noun

im·​pres·​sion·​ism im-ˈpre-shə-ˌni-zəm 

1

often capitalized : a theory or practice in painting especially among French painters of about 1870 of depicting the natural appearances of objects by means of dabs or strokes of primary unmixed colors in order to simulate actual reflected light

2

a

: the depiction (as in literature) of scene, emotion, or character by details intended to achieve a vividness or effectiveness more by evoking subjective and sensory impressions than by recreating an objective reality

b

: a style of musical composition designed to create subtle moods and impressions

Examples of impressionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But in Ravel’s solo works, which across decades of composition contain both the evocative broad strokes of impressionism and the luminous specificity of pointillism, his approach can have mixed results. —Joshua Barone, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

By Sebastian Smee No cultural movement happens in a vacuum, and in this book Smee, the Pulitzer Prize–winning art critic at The Washington Post, looks beyond the artists’ ateliers, taking a sweeping historical approach to chronicling the advent of impressionism. —Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024

Other styles include conceptual, gothic, pop art, surrealism, art deco, contemporary, impressionism, realism, art nouveau, cubism, renaissance, baroque, fauvism, and modern. —Terri Williams, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

His thesis is that after surviving what Victor Hugo called the Terrible Year—one marred by war and starvation—the wellborn trio rejected darkness for light, the quality that has come to be most associated with impressionism. —Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing impressionism

• neo-impressionism

Rhymes for impressionism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Kids Definition

impressionism

noun

im·​pres·​sion·​ism im-ˈpresh-ə-ˌniz-əm 

1

often capitalized : a style of painting beginning in France around 1870 in which dabs or strokes of primary colors are used to give the effect of light actually reflected from things

2

: a style of musical composition designed to create moods through rich and varied harmonies