postmodern

[ pohst-mod-ern ]

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.

postmodern

/ 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

Derived Forms

• postˈmodernist, nounadjective
• postˈmoderˌnism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of postmodern¹

First recorded in 1945–50; post- + modern

Example Sentences

Beneath the layers of the Wooster Group’s postmodern antics, on the other hand, are only more layers of performance.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was a lot of talk during Trump’s first term about how he was the first 'postmodern' president, but a lot of what pundits pointed to was pioneered by the Bush administration."

From Salon

In the album’s lead single “Gaslight,” Travis fashions a high-energy musical palette to address the inherent paranoia of our postmodern age, an era in which deception and social destabilization rule the day.

From Salon

Semi-modern dance, silent film, a postmodern libretto with ancient texts, a mad scene that lasts some 95 minutes — it’s a stretch.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to reflections about the medium itself, Lorelei contains traces of postmodern novels and the cinema of the French New Wave.

From New York Times