postmodern

American  

[pohst-mod-ern] / poʊstˈmɒd ərn /

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.

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postmodern British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• postmodernism
  noun
• postmodernist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of postmodern

First recorded in 1945–50; post- + modern

Example Sentences

I won’t assume y’all know what that postmodern design is.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

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.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

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

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

The literature prize went to Hungarian author Laszlo Krasznahorkai whose works explore themes of postmodern dystopia and melancholy.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

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

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis