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
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
According to the most recent runways—such as Chanel and Stella McCartney—denim is moving away from classic minimalism and stepping into something louder with crystals, pearls, rhinestones, and more.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
The resulting look was minimalism with impact.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
European kidswear from the 18th and 19th centuries, minimalism, weird-cuteness and showcasing the stages of a teenage girl moving into adulthood define Röyksopp Gakkai.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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