purism

[ pyoor-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. strict observance of or insistence on purity in language, style, etc.
2. an instance of this.
3. Often Purism. Fine Arts. a style of art developed in France in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of simple geometric forms and images evocative of objects produced by machine.

purism

/ ˈpjʊəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. insistence on traditional canons of correctness of form or purity of style or content, esp in language, art, or music

Derived Forms

• ˈpurist, adjectivenoun
• puˈristically, adverb
• puˈristic, adjective

Other Words From

• pur·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of purism¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; pure + -ism

Example Sentences

The Librem 5, for example, is built by Purism, an American “social purpose corporation” specializing in privacy-oriented products.

From MIT Technology Review

As a general rule, I think, educated Americans are more apt to err on the side of purism than of laxity.

From Project Gutenberg

No writer of the period has such a command of pure English, unadulterated by xenomania and unweakened by purism, as Daniel.

From Project Gutenberg

Purism, whether in grammar or vocabulary, almost always means ignorance.

From Project Gutenberg

His fate was perhaps as sad as well might be, and as foul a blot to the purism of these very pure times in which we live.

From Project Gutenberg

If we attempt such purism we must fail signally as constructors and as artists.

From Project Gutenberg