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.
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 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 22 Apr. 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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