surrealism

noun

sur·​re·​al·​ism sə-ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 

also -ˈrā-

: the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations

surrealist

sə-ˈrē-ə-list 

also -ˈrā-

noun or adjective

Examples of surrealism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rapper seemingly pulled on themes from American Horror Story and the surrealism of Tim Burton’s filmmaking to bring her bone-chilling vision to life. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026

Pollard has also been immersed in surrealism and dada, fitting genres for a musician and visual artist who has a knack for bending words and images to his will — either via hallucinatory lyrics or collages that mesh realms both physical and meta. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026

My artist father told me that magical realism emerged from the visual tradition of post-World World II surrealism. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

As this is a Lynch film, explaining the rest of the plot would be a pointless exercise, but expect plentiful violence, stylish surrealism, and a road movie that’ll shock and delight in equal measure. — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French surréalisme, from sur- + réalisme realism

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for surrealism

• idealism
• neorealism