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Definition of postmodern

postmodern

/ˌpoʊstˈmɑː.dɚn/
post · mod · ern

Plural:postmoderns
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postmodern Lexical Profile

postmodern Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to or denoting a late 20th-century movement in the arts, architecture, and criticism that reacts against modernism, characterized by irony, self-reference, eclecticism, and skepticism toward grand narratives or absolute truths.

Example

"The novel employs a postmodern structure, frequently breaking the fourth wall and blending historical fiction with pop culture."

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Antonyms
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• noun

1

An artist, writer, thinker, or person whose work or worldview exemplifies postmodernism.

Example

"Unlike earlier theorists, the postmoderns rejected the idea of a single, objective historical narrative."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for postmodern

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from the Latin prefix 'post-' (meaning 'after') and 'modern', the term gained widespread prominence in the 1960s and 1970s through architectural criticism and French continental philosophy.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Postmodern. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/postmodern
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