minimalism

noun

min·​i·​mal·​ism ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity

2

: minimal art

Did you know?

In the 1960s, a few composers, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams, began writing music inspired by the music of India and Southeast Asia, often with a quick pulsing beat and chords that are repeated quickly over and over while small changes are slowly introduced. Minimalist art, which began appearing around the same time, tries to strip away all personal elements, often leaving only pure geometric forms; you may have seen the plain silver boxes of Donald Judd, or the straight neon tubes of Bruce Nauman. In literature, the stripped-down fiction of Samuel Beckett and Raymond Carver is often considered minimalist. But there's a real question whether these various types of minimalism should even be considered the same concept.

Examples of minimalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the early aughts, minimalism and cool tones like gray and stark white reigned supreme. —Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2025

Powers’ looks are often a class on how minimalism can still be a statement. —Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 21 Dec. 2024

This one combines contemporary architecture and modern minimalism to create a small but luxurious residence that even has a front porch area. Obutwire Luxury Residential Tiny House $8,866 at Amazon Just one look at its exterior and asymmetrical design tells you this one is not like others. —Miles Walls, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024

But the official poster for 2025, unveiled Thursday, is bear-less, instead featuring an abstract design whose geometric shapes, bold colors and minimalism echo the Bauhaus movement. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1