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escapism
noun
es·cap·ism
i-ˈskā-ˌpi-zəm
: habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine
Examples of escapism in a Sentence
Reading romantic novels is for her a form of escapism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Retailers are tapping into a genuine desire for emotional connection and festive escapism.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Driven by social media hype, nostalgia, and a desire for escapism, Halloween has evolved from a single-day celebration to a season-long retail event.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 1 Oct. 2024
Inspired by gothic ’90s thrillers like Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs, Osgood Perkins’s unsettling and periodically shocking mood piece is an intelligent example of occult-horror escapism.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
Each one provided a perverse kind of escapism: a dark fantasy depicting Miami as a dreamy, sensuous war zone dotted with glass skyscrapers, cobalt swimming pools, and pastels.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near escapism
Cite this Entry
“Escapism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escapism. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
escapism
noun
es·cap·ism
is-ˈkā-ˌpiz-əm
: a habit of thinking or a form of entertainment about purely imaginary or amusing things that provides an escape from reality or everyday matters
Medical Definition
escapism
noun
es·cap·ism
is-ˈkā-ˌpiz-əm
: habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine
More from Merriam-Webster on escapism
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for escapism
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