surrealism

[ suh-ree-uh-liz-uh m ]

/ səˈri əˌlɪz əm /

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.

Nearby words

surprise symphony, surprising, surra, surratt, surreal, surrealism, surrealistic, surrebuttal, surrebutter, surrejoinder, surrender

Origin of surrealism

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

Related forms

sur·re·al·ist, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for surrealism

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
It was his mix of expressionism and surrealism, however, that allowed Freud a legacy of admiration rather than notoriety.
A New Book Gives A Rare Glimpse Into The Life of Lucian Freud|Erin Cunningham|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Director Alex Nazari blurs the lines between reality and surrealism in this track, “Numb.”
Wiz Khalifa, Paramore & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)|Jean Trinh|April 14, 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

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

Culture 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.