contextualism
Americannoun
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(in motion-picture criticism) the theory that all incidents in a film must be viewed in the social, political, and cultural context with which the film concerns itself and in which it was made.
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Architecture. the aesthetic position that a building or the like should be designed for harmony or a meaningful relationship with other such elements already existing in its vicinity.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contextualism
First recorded in 1925–30; contextual + -ism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The star was recognised for her eighth album, Cowboy Carter, which celebrates and contextualises the black roots of country music.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025
Angela Davis’s book analyses and contextualises the music of Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.
From The Guardian • Jun. 26, 2015
She comes up with the concept, specifies what she wants; they make it, she contextualises it.
From The Guardian • May 25, 2010
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
