classicism
noun
clas·si·cism
ˈkla-sə-ˌsi-zəm 
1
a
: the principles or style embodied in the literature, art, or architecture of ancient Greece and Rome
b
: classical scholarship
c
: a classical idiom or expression
2
: adherence to traditional standards (as of simplicity, restraint, and proportion) that are universally and enduringly valid
Examples of classicism in a Sentence
a return to classicism in modern architecture
the classicism of the building
Recent Examples on the Web
Expect light linens and shimmering silks, flowing drapes and silhouettes, and an artful interplay between classicism and subtle modernity.
—
Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 14 June 2026
The American public, however, may hold somewhat different views on the merits of classicism.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
The film shows you how Lean, for all his lavishly exacting middle-of-the-road classicism, was a radical filmmaker and perhaps the key inventor (along with Hitchcock) of modern Hollywood cinema.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 May 2026
BelarteStudio Also at WSA, interior designer Nina Takesh will launch her Eastern Blush wallpaper collection inspired by Persian heritage, European classicism and Parisian fashion.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for classicism
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Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 14 June 2026
The American public, however, may hold somewhat different views on the merits of classicism.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
The film shows you how Lean, for all his lavishly exacting middle-of-the-road classicism, was a radical filmmaker and perhaps the key inventor (along with Hitchcock) of modern Hollywood cinema.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 May 2026
BelarteStudio Also at WSA, interior designer Nina Takesh will launch her Eastern Blush wallpaper collection inspired by Persian heritage, European classicism and Parisian fashion.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for classicism
Cite this Entry
“Classicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classicism. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classicism
noun
clas·si·cism
ˈklas-ə-ˌsiz-əm
1
: the principles or style of the literature, art, or architecture of ancient Greece and Rome
2
: a following of the standards of tradition (as in music or art)
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