surrealism

[ suh-ree-uh-liz-uhm ]

/ səˈri əˌlɪz əm /

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noun (sometimes initial capital letter)

a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or nonrational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.

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Origin of surrealism

From the French word surréalisme, dating back to 1920–25. See sur-¹, realism

OTHER WORDS FROM surrealism

sur·re·al·ist, noun, adjective

Words nearby surrealism

surprising, surprisingly, surra, Surratt, surreal, surrealism, surrealistic, surrebuttal, surrebutter, surrejoinder, surrender

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use surrealism in a sentence

The work of Vina Domingo, another emerging talent who grew up in the Philippines but now lives in Idaho, borders on surrealism.
The Alchemists Mixing Art With Science|Kate Bartlett|September 7, 2021|Ozy
The surrealism whisks you away, but you’re never far from the feelings and relationships that pulse through the universe you know—all while shining a radiant spotlight on a community you might not.
The Dazzling ‘In the Heights’ May Be the Best Movie Musical in Decades|Kevin Fallon|June 11, 2021|The Daily Beast
They observe the move from surrealism to politically oriented work as writers and artists challenged the rise of Fascism in Europe.
Real Madrid|Margery Resnick|April 28, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Both genres can get away with surrealism in a way that others genres can’t.
'Death is a Turning Point': Search Party's Creators Discuss Season 4 and the Shocking Finale Twist|Andrew R. Chow|January 28, 2021|Time

Part of this has to do with the aforementioned surrealism that goes hand in hand with the movie’s dream-ish milieu.
Queer horror film chokes on surrealist pretensions in ‘The One You Feed’|John Paul King|January 15, 2021|Washington Blade
I loved his blend of Native American realism with just a touch of surrealism.
Sherman Alexie on His New Film, the Redskins, and Why It's OK to Laugh at His Work|William O’Connor|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How did you develop this knack for inventing, and surrealism?
Michel Gondry on ‘Mood Indigo,’ Kanye West, and the 10th Anniversary of ‘Eternal Sunshine’|Marlow Stern|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But to sit through an entire Jodorowsky film requires an extremely high tolerance for surrealism (or maybe LSD).
‘Jodorowsky’s Dune’ and the Allure of the Unmade Masterpiece|Caryn James|March 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the dekiltered surrealism Harold brought to that telling, he'd sometimes break through to what can only be called Art.
The Stacks: Harold Conrad Was Many Things, But He Was Never, Ever Dull|Mark Jacobson|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many say that The Great Beauty is the new Fellini, with its handsome surrealism, baroque expressions, and casual opulence.
The New Fellini: Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘The Great Beauty’|Jimmy So|November 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for surrealism

surrealism

/ (səˈrɪəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

(sometimes capital) a movement in art and literature in the 1920s, which developed esp from dada, characterized by the evocative juxtaposition of incongruous images in order to include unconscious and dream elements

Derived forms of surrealism

surrealist, noun, adjectivesurrealistic, adjectivesurrealistically, adverb

Word Origin for surrealism

C20: from French surréalisme, from sur- 1 + réalisme realism

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

Cultural definitions for surrealism

surrealism

A movement in art and literature that flourished in the early twentieth century. Surrealism aimed at expressing imaginative dreams and visions free from conscious rational control. Salvador Dali was an influential surrealist painter; Jean Cocteau was a master of surrealist film.