dada
[ dah-dah ]
/ ˈdɑ dɑ /
noun (sometimes initial capital letter)
the style and techniques of a group of artists, writers, etc., of the early 20th century who exploited accidental and incongruous effects in their work and who programmatically challenged established canons of art, thought, morality, etc.
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Nearby words
Origin of dada
1915–20; < French: hobby horse, childish reduplication of da giddyap
Related formsda·da·ism, nounda·da·ist, nounda·da·is·tic, adjectiveda·da·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for dadaism
Dada
Dadaism (ˈdɑːdɑːˌɪzəm)
/ (ˈdɑːdɑː) /
noun
a nihilistic artistic movement of the early 20th century in W Europe and the US, founded on principles of irrationality, incongruity, and irreverence towards accepted aesthetic criteria
Derived FormsDadaist, noun, adjectiveDadaistic, adjectiveDadaistically, adverb
Word Origin for Dada
C20: from French, from a children's word for hobbyhorse, the name being arbitrarily chosen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for dadaism
dada
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper