art deco

noun

art de·​co ˌärt-ˈde-ˌkō 

ˌär(t)-dā-ˈkō, 

ˈär(t)-ˈdā-(ˌ)

variants often Art Deco

: a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s characterized especially by bold outlines, geometric and zigzag forms, and the use of new materials (such as plastic)

Examples of art deco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside, guests will find a playful space filled with art deco touches and a fantastic food and beverage program. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026

Kate’s bracelet is composed of diamond bars in an art deco design and, per Tatler, the piece was created in the 1920s, right around the time Queen Mary wore it in a portrait. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026

Burgundy and chartreuse accents punctuate a beige and ochre palette, while tactile materials recall the city’s Villa Necchi Campiglio house museum, the ne plus ultra of Milanese art deco design. —Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026

She’s lived here all her life (twenty-nine years), presently in a sprawling art deco-ish apartment. —Lynn Hirschberg, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French Art Déco, from Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exposition of modern decorative and industrial arts held in Paris, France, in 1925

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for art deco

• derecho
• echo
• gecko