postmodern

[pohst-mod-ern]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to architecture of the late 20th century, appearing in the 1960s, that consciously uses complex forms, fantasy, and allusions to historic styles, in contrast to the austere forms and emphasis on utility of standard modern architecture.

2. extremely modern; cutting-edge.

   postmodern kids who grew up on MTV.

postmodern

/ pəʊstˈmɒdən /

adjective

1. (in the arts, architecture, etc) characteristic of a style and school of thought that rejects the dogma and practices of any form of modernism; in architecture, contrasting with international modernism and featuring elements from several periods, esp the Classical, often with ironic use of decoration

Other Word Forms

• postmodernist noun
• postmodernism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of postmodern¹

First recorded in 1945–50; post- + modern

Example Sentences

Their meetings acquired the flavor of a postmodern literary puzzle: The story rang true even as the narrator seemed entirely unreliable.

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The fraternal gathering of men, costumed in Jérôme Kaplan’s chic, postmodern take on toga-party garb, is vividly spurred by Bernstein’s evocative composition—for strings, percussion and solo violin.

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Employers need people who can rebuild transmissions more than people who can explain postmodern theory.

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The Nobel Prize in Literature was on Thursday awarded to Laszlo Krasznahorkai, considered by many as Hungary's most important living author, whose works explore themes of postmodern dystopia and melancholy.

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The novel, which is most often labeled postmodern in its themes, was a breakout success, later becoming one of Hungary’s most celebrated works.

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