bricolage

American  

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

noun

bricolages 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

Inflected Forms

noun

• bricolages
  plural
• bricolage
  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

While tame in comparison to his later work, Vitra marked Gehry’s transition from rough-edged, industrial bricolage to sculptural spectacle.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

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

This bricolage surprisingly coheres by the novel’s end into an authentic expression of a mind striving to comprehend the inexplicable cruelties of the universe and humanity’s most proper response.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

“True Story” unwinds through a variety of “found” and fashioned narratives spanning nearly two decades that become a bricolage we assemble ourselves.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2020

It’s a difficult question, but I love it for its feat of bricolage – for how it does so much with so little.

From The Guardian • Jan. 28, 2020