minimalism

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noun min·i·mal·ism \ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm\

Definition of minimalism

1 : a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity
2 : minimal art

Recent Examples of minimalism from the Web

The allure of effortless beauty and chic minimalism that make up the French-Girl aesthetic are as conceptually captivating as the iconic women who encapsulate it.

— fatou n'diaye, Glamour, "What 'French-Girl Beauty' Means If You're a Woman of Color," 14 July 2017
The sheer minimalism of this image starts to have an eerie effect that belies the goofy origins of it.

— ashley lee, The Hollywood Reporter, "‘A Ghost Story’: David Lowery on Directing Casey Affleck Under a Sheet and Adding That Kesha Cameo," 7 July 2017
And buried in all of this sleek minimalism is a subtle nod to the brand's early DNA.

— scott christian, Esquire, "Jordan Brand Gets Sophisticated for Fall 2017," 23 June 2017
Customers purchasing homes today often are looking for minimalism in design with high-quality materials and increased functionality.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Get a behind the scenes look at new line of tiny homes designed by a Birmingham architect," 22 June 2017
The land is represented by a white acrylic, giving each map both a soothing minimalism and strong contrast.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Gorgeous Laser-Cut Maps Put the Ocean on Your Wall," 21 June 2017
This kind of extreme minimalism is not standard practice in Japan, but the concept of making do with less has become much more mainstream in recent years, an antidote to materialism and excess.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "Can you declutter if you have kids? This Japanese dad says you can.," 16 June 2017
The Darling Exchange in Sydney, Australia – Kengo Kuma, an award-winning Japanese architect, is known for his minimalism and innovative use of natural materials in his buildings.

— temujin doran and katy scott, CNN, "'Earthquake-proof' building anchored by a giant curtain of cables," 13 June 2017
Their design theme is minimalism, moving little dirt at little cost to create a course with a $50 green fee.

— teddy greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Erin Hills — a short, strange trip to landing the U.S. Open," 10 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'minimalism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

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.