romanticism

noun

ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

rə-

1

often capitalized

a(1)

: a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement originating in the 18th century, characterized chiefly by a reaction against neoclassicism and an emphasis on the imagination and emotions, and marked especially in English literature by sensibility and the use of autobiographical material, an exaltation of the primitive and the common man, an appreciation of external nature, an interest in the remote, a predilection for melancholy, and the use in poetry of older verse forms

(2)

: an aspect of romanticism

b

: adherence to a romantic attitude or style

2

: the quality or state of being romantic

romanticist

rō-ˈman-tə-sist 

rə-

noun often capitalized

Examples of romanticism in a Sentence

Try not to discourage the romanticism of college students.

Recent Examples on the Web

Valli has a way of masterfully blending romanticism and contemporary design. —Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025

Going to space, to her, was less about the romanticism and wonder of the universe, but the inherently political battleground that space represents. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025

With its waves of electronica, its foregrounding of style, its pendulum swings between romanticism and alienation, the movie turned out to be one of the harbingers of what many deemed the MTV aesthetic. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025

There is ample evidence that pro-rel provides the romanticism and jeopardy that drives fan interest. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing romanticism

• pre-romanticism

Rhymes for romanticism

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

Kids Definition

romanticism

noun

ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsiz-əm 

1

often capitalized : a literary and artistic movement marked chiefly by an emphasis on the imagination and emotions

2

: the quality or state of being romantic

romanticist

-səst 

noun often capitalized