moderne

American  

[moh-dairn, muh-] / moʊˈdɛərn, mə- /

adjective

1. pretentiously modern; striving to appear modern but lacking style or conviction.

2. (often initial capital letter) of or noting a style of decorative art and architecture of the 1930s and 1940s that was influenced by streamlined industrial design of airplanes, ships, and cars: usually considered to be a later development of art deco.

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moderne British  

/ məˈdɛən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the style of architecture and design, prevalent in Europe and the US in the late 1920s and 1930s, typified by the use of straight lines, tubular chromed steel frames, contrasting inlaid woods, etc Compare Art Deco

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Etymology

Origin of moderne

< French: modern

Example Sentences

That’s part of the job description for owning a 1941 art moderne landmark.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2022

A construction boom on the heels of World War II had wiped out a first round of capital landmarks: grand federal buildings from the 1790s, art moderne structures from the 1930s.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2016

Fred Kinney’s set shifts from moderne spareness to Belle Époque glitz and back.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2015

Corsets were already on their way out in 1911 when this ad appeared in La Vie Heureuse, coyly affirming the link between feminism and femininity at the core of the femme moderne identity.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2012

L’esprit classique n’est pas ... incompatible avec l’esprit moderne.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various