modernism

noun

mod·​ern·​ism ˈmä-dər-ˌni-zəm 

1

: a practice, usage, or expression peculiar to modern times

such modernisms as "blog," "bromance," and "steampunk"

2

often capitalized : a tendency in theology to accommodate traditional religious teaching to contemporary thought and especially to devalue supernatural elements

3

: modern artistic or literary philosophy and practice

especially : a self-conscious break with the past and a search for new forms of expression

extols the … modernism that laid the foundation of all twentieth-century design

—Jeffrey Simpson

modernist

ˈmä-dər-nist 

noun or adjective

modernistic

ˌmä-dər-ˈni-stik 

adjective

Examples of modernism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The abode brings together a few different design inspirations, from classic midcentury modernism to Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2025

To Sickert that would have been an insult; his modernism was defined by slovenliness. —Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 27 Mar. 2025

MoMA and modernism — in the sense of experimentation and the rejection of tradition — have never been easy bedfellows. —Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025

The Eames House showed a side of modernism that was livable. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing modernism

• hyper-modernism

Rhymes for modernism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

modernism

noun

mod·​ern·​ism ˈmäd-ər-ˌniz-əm 

: a modern custom, expression, style, or idea

modernist

-nəst 

noun or adjective

modernistic

ˌmäd-ər-ˈnis-tik 

adjective