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
Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 15 Feb. 2026
Most of Klein’s offices at the time were designed by Joe D’Urso, who was best known for his philosophy of high-tech minimalism, which brought industrial materials into non-industrial spaces.
—Mekita Rivas, Architectural Digest, 12 Feb. 2026
Woanger Set of 4 Wicker Storage Baskets Pretty, functional storage solutions are the perfect antidote to impractical minimalism.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet the elegant minimalism of the three spokes—made completely from recycled aluminum—remains the overarching aesthetic cue.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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