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

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

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai, who won the Nobel literature prize on Thursday, has been described as the postmodern "master of the apocalypse".

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

Unlike Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” which spent far too much time telling the viewer exactly what they already knew about our postmodern psychosis, Anderson grapples with not just what humanity is, but what it can become.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2025

The skiing woman, blond and pale skinned, the iconic model of postmodern femininity, was smiling and wearing sunglasses.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith