SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Dada

play

noun Da·da \ˈdä-(ˌ)dä\

Definition of Dada

: a movement in art and literature based on deliberate irrationality and negation of traditional artistic values; also : the art and literature produced by this movement

Origin and Etymology of dada

French

First Known Use: 1918

Learn More about dada

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Dada

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up Dada? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

threshold

play

the point at which something begins

Words at Play

Pink: The Color that Will Change Your Life

From Fuchsia to Baker-Miller Pink

That Sucks Word Alternatives

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

alt-5931949575ca5

'All the Feels,' All the Time

Once more, with 'feels'

alt-59480e09b8844

A Pineapple Is An Apple (Kind Of)

Pineapple once had a different, more internationally common name.

Ask the Editors

Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us

June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

Take the quiz

alt-5941ad7527c3c

Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

Is that your picture under "Largest Vocabulary"?

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game