postmodern

adjective

post·​mod·​ern ˌpōs(t)-ˈmä-dərn How to pronounce postmodern (audio)
 nonstandard  -ˈmä-d(ə-)rən
1
: of, relating to, or being an era after a modern one
postmodern times
a postmodern metropolis
2
a
: of, relating to, or being any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms (as in architecture) or by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature)
b
: of, relating to, or being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language
postmodern feminism
postmodernist adjective or noun
postmodernity
ˌpōs(t)-mə-ˈdər-ne-tē How to pronounce postmodern (audio)
-mä-
 also  -ˈder-
noun

Examples of postmodern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Based on the semi-autobiographical 1985 novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs, viewers can expect a mesmerizing postmodern meditation on addiction, desire, and sexuality. Samantha Allen, Them, 29 Oct. 2024 Beneath the layers of the Wooster Group’s postmodern antics, on the other hand, are only more layers of performance. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024 The idea—a missive from the world of Demna Gvasalia, the creative director of the brand, who is hailed or scorned as the priest of postmodern dressing—forced a moment of critical reflection. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024 Wicked is based on the hit (and still ongoing) Broadway musical that was itself adapted from Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which was a postmodern riff on L. Frank Baum's original Wizard of Oz stories. Christian Holub, EW.com, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for postmodern 

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of postmodern was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near postmodern

Cite this Entry

“Postmodern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postmodern. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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