minimalism

noun

min·​i·​mal·​ism ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce minimalism (audio)
1
: a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity
2

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
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In the early 2000s, minimalism was coming into vogue in electronic circles, and Björk worked with collaborators like the experimental duo Matmos to create percussion sounds out of commonplace objects on Vespertine. Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2025 But there is also the slow minimalism of Morton Feldman and the manic yet patient seeking of Italy’s mystic count Giacinto Scelsi, in the twentieth century. The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025 Despite this, Bukky said minimalism still appeals to her. Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025 In the early aughts, minimalism and cool tones like gray and stark white reigned supreme. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for minimalism 

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of minimalism was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near minimalism

Cite this Entry

“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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