Romanesque

adjective

Ro·​man·​esque ˌrō-mə-ˈnesk 

: of or relating to a style of architecture developed in Italy and western Europe between the Roman and the Gothic styles and characterized in its development after 1000 by the use of the round arch and vault, substitution of piers for columns, decorative use of arcades, and profuse ornament

Romanesque noun

Examples of Romanesque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cathedral has a sober Romanesque façade, but its interior was updated to baroque after a serious earthquake in 1706. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

White made preliminary drawings for the facade in the Romanesque style, then departed on a long trip. —Henry Wiencek july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025

Around 40 minutes south of Haro are two Romanesque monasteries, San Millán de Yuso and Suso, both founded in the sixth century. —Fiona Govan, CNN Money, 10 July 2025

Its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture — punctuated by a five-story interior courtyard and skylight, two towers, peaked roofs, turrets and gables — lends itself to weddings and corporate events. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025

Her study led her to similar patterns rendered on Norman (another term for Romanesque) churches in France and England. —David Conrads, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Romanesque

• arabesque
• picaresque
• statuesque
• burlesque
• grotesque
• carnivalesque
• desk

Kids Definition

Romanesque

adjective

Ro·​man·​esque ˌrō-mə-ˈnesk 

: relating to or being an old style of architecture (as for churches) coming before Gothic architecture and having round arches, thick heavy walls, and few small windows