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

See Examples For:

postmodern

The blending of the prosaic with the philosophical creates a recasting of Plato’s cave allegory, though Ms. Day’s proximate influences often seem more postmodern.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Our postmodern pope’s meta-callback to another papal deep-cut.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

"We started with Michael Boyd at the Tron pantomime and we wanted to get the essence of that postmodern, Scottish music hall culture and put it on a big stage," he says.

From BBC ● May 24, 2026

A new solo exhibition by Takashi Murakami, the iconic founder of Japan’s postmodern Superflat movement, is on view at Perrotin: “Hark Back to Ukiyo-e: Tracing Superflat to Japonisme’s Genesis.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026

The yard was paved with black cinder, and there was no greenery at all except a few gingko trees in postmodern tubs, placed at dramatic intervals.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt