postmodern

American  

[pohst-mod-ern] / poʊstˈmɒd ərn /

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.

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postmodern British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• postmodernism noun
• postmodernist noun

Etymology

Origin of postmodern

First recorded in 1945–50; post- + modern

Example Sentences

I won’t assume y’all know what that postmodern design is.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The fraternal gathering of men, costumed in Jérôme Kaplan’s chic, postmodern take on toga-party garb, is vividly spurred by Bernstein’s evocative composition—for strings, percussion and solo violin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

Employers need people who can rebuild transmissions more than people who can explain postmodern theory.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai, who won the Nobel literature prize on Thursday, has been described as the postmodern "master of the apocalypse".

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

This book has therefore been deliberately written in opposition to certain conventions which have become established in ‘these postmodern days’.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton