historicism

noun

his·​tor·​i·​cism hi-ˈstȯr-ə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce historicism (audio)
-ˈstär-
: a theory, doctrine, or style that emphasizes the importance of history: such as
a
: a theory in which history is seen as a standard of value or as a determinant of events
b
: a style (as in architecture) characterized by the use of traditional forms and elements
historicist adjective or noun

Examples of historicism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The mix of escapism, historicism, and overt femininity combined with nostalgia have made the coquette aesthetic one of the most viral trends of this 2024. Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2024 In the new serif logos of Ferragamo and Burberry, that subtle play for historicism may be key to winning back customer bases in an increasingly competitive landscape of newer brands. Aileen Kwun, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2023 At the apex moment of postmodern historicism (see: the Crescent), the building Barnes gave the museum was decidedly modern, defined by an inclined internal street and a barrel-vaulted gallery then dedicated to contemporary art. Dallas News, 1 Mar. 2023 Stanford’s apology for discrimination in the 1950s is well meaning, but this kind of historicism can turn easily into escapism. WSJ, 25 Oct. 2022 Today’s historicism is a fulfillment of that discourse, having migrated from the margins of academia to the heart of the liberal establishment. Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 22 June 2021 The penchant for the Vineyard vernacular precludes much historicism, with surprisingly few references to the Shingle-style, that inventive use of humble cedar shakes that found expression in posh watering holes such as Newport and Bar Harbor. BostonGlobe.com, 6 June 2021 Despite its pointed historicism, the book reads at times as an annotation to certain ongoing and resolutely modern narratives—a companion script to the past decade in lifestyle news and pop culture. Mallika Rao, The Atlantic, 19 Nov. 2019 But don’t expect musty historicism from this canny drama, at Olney Theatre Center in an arresting production directed by Paige Hernandez. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'historicism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of historicism was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near historicism

Cite this Entry

“Historicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historicism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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