art nouveau

American  

[ahrt noo-voh, ahr, ar-noo-voh] / ˌɑrt nuˈvoʊ, ˌɑr, ar nuˈvoʊ /

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. a style of fine and applied art current in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized chiefly by curvilinear motifs often derived from natural forms.

---

Art Nouveau British  

/ ɑː nuːˈvəʊ, ar nuvo /

noun

1. 1. a style of art and architecture of the 1890s, characterized by swelling sinuous outlines and stylized natural forms, such as flowers and leaves

   2. ( as modifier )

      an Art-Nouveau mirror

---

Etymology

Origin of art nouveau

1900–05; < French: literally, new art

Example Sentences

After fully renovating their apartment in a 1904 art nouveau building that’s a short walk from the Duomo cathedral, they now split their time between Beverly Hills and Milan, with plenty of travel in between.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 4, 2025

Ferrell’s aesthetic, like her music, is a singular blend that joins past with present: 19th century carnival-core, art nouveau huntress, cosmic cowgirl, anime pixie and futuristic Las Vegas showgirl.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

"It was just basically the art nouveau interior and the way the whole thing looked."

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2023

Or was it the hand-painted porcelain plate with the exceptional art nouveau design I happened upon at a Redmond antique mall?

From Seattle Times • Jul. 8, 2023

He stared at her books, too—covered in ink and art nouveau doodles.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell