Orientalism

[ awr-ee-en-tl-iz-uhm, ohr- ]

noun(often lowercase)
  1. a peculiarity or idiosyncrasy of the peoples of Asia, especially the East.

  2. the character or characteristics of the peoples of Asia, especially the East.

  1. the knowledge and study of Asian, especially Eastern languages, literature, etc.

Origin of Orientalism

1
First recorded in 1760–70; oriental + -ism

Other words from Orientalism

  • O·ri·en·tal·ist, noun
  • an·ti-O·ri·en·tal·ism, noun
  • an·ti-O·ri·en·tal·ist, noun, adjective

Words Nearby Orientalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Orientalism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Orientalism

Orientalism

/ (ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. knowledge of or devotion to the Orient

  2. an Oriental quality, style, or trait

Derived forms of Orientalism

  • Orientalist, noun
  • Orientalistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012