romanticism

noun

ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce romanticism (audio)
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 noun often capitalized

Examples of romanticism in a Sentence

Try not to discourage the romanticism of college students.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for romanticism

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of romanticism was in 1821

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Cite this Entry

“Romanticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/romanticism. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

romanticism

noun
ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce romanticism (audio)
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 noun often capitalized

More from Merriam-Webster on romanticism

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