bricolage

American  

[bree-kuh-lahzh, brik-uh-] / ˌbri kəˈlɑʒ, ˌbrɪk ə- /

noun

bricolages, plural bricolage plural

1. a construction made of whatever materials are at hand; something created from a variety of available things.

2. (in literature) a piece created from diverse resources.

3. (in art) a piece of makeshift handiwork.

4. the use of multiple, diverse research methods.

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bricolage British  

/ ˈbrɪkəˌlɑːʒ, brɪkɔlaʒ /

noun

1. the jumbled effect produced by the close proximity of buildings from different periods and in different architectural styles

2. the deliberate creation of such an effect in certain modern developments

   the post-modernist bricolage of the new shopping centre

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bricolage
  plural
• bricolages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bricolage

First recorded in 1960–65; from French, literally, “do-it-yourself,” from bricoler “to do odd jobs, small chores,” from Middle French bricoler “to zigzag, bounce off,” from Old French bricole “a trifle, bricole ( def. ) ” + -age -age ( def. )

Explanation

Using whatever materials you have on hand to create something new, whether it's food, art, or even a concept, you’re being resourceful by creating a bricolage. Bricolage (pronounced bree-koh-LAHZH) is a French term that refers to the art of making something new by combining a diverse range of readily available materials. Bricolage involves using whatever is at hand to construct, fix, or decorate, often leading to creative and unique results. This can apply to various fields, from art and design to problem-solving and construction. The essence of bricolage lies in its resourcefulness and creativity, transforming everyday items into inventive creations.

Example Sentences

Farto, better known as Vhils, collected doors in Cairo and elsewhere in the world for a bricolage intended to evoke the archaeological process.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

He appears to have blurted out the overtime policy as part of what the Irish writer Fintan O’Toole aptly describes as “the surreal bricolage of his rally speeches.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

It’s the scientific community’s term for bricolage, “when something doesn’t go as planned,” he said.

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2022

Ken Liu deploys a glittering bricolage of multimedia materials to chart his future of telepresence tourism in “Jaunt” and discovers surprising sociopolitical consequences in the new recreational tech.

From Washington Post • May 9, 2021

Like the album that surrounds it, it is also an ardent act of bricolage.

From The Guardian • Jun. 20, 2020