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

What connects us is more of a vibe: a kind of French romanticism. —Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025

There was also cinematic and emotional romanticism. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025

Gothic literature of the late-18th and 19th centuries took inspiration from the medieval and the morbid, sparking a fascination with dark romanticism and the occult. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025

But on that record, even the happiest songs had a kind of love-among-the-ruins feel, where the romanticism seemed hard-fought. —Liz Schubauer, USA Today, 3 Oct. 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