minimalism

noun

min·​i·​mal·​ism ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm 

1

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

2

: minimal art

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.

Examples of minimalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From an architectural point of view, swimming pools have a rich iconography, with their references to Art Deco, modernism, and minimalism, with a sometimes austere aesthetic. —Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 30 Nov. 2025

Hailey Bieber, a champion of urban minimalism, has worn polo shirts with shorts and ballet flats on several occasions. —Michel Mejía, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025

Sculptures occupy corners like permanent installations; canvases with bold brushstrokes command attention in spaces that blend classic elegance with modern minimalism. —Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025

This chunky white diamond bombé (or domed) band is what happens when sleek minimalism meets serious sparkle. —Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for minimalism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism