minimalism
noun
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In the 1960s, a few composers, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams, began writing music inspired by the music of India and Southeast Asia, often with a quick pulsing beat and chords that are repeated quickly over and over while small changes are slowly introduced. Minimalist art, which began appearing around the same time, tries to strip away all personal elements, often leaving only pure geometric forms; you may have seen the plain silver boxes of Donald Judd, or the straight neon tubes of Bruce Nauman. In literature, the stripped-down fiction of Samuel Beckett and Raymond Carver is often considered minimalist. But there's a real question whether these various types of minimalism should even be considered the same concept.
Examples of minimalism in a Sentence
Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
But BandWith Chicago’s new home in East Garfield Park displays a more contemporary approach to minimalism, one that richly layers old and new elements in a compelling solution that is modest and straightforward while equally elegant and nuanced.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
The goal isn’t minimalism for its own sake.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
After the renovation, the restaurant connects more with its outdoor areas, features a pastel and beige color palette and solid wood tables with artisanal touches that follow the latest décor trends—moving away from minimalism and coldness.
—Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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