# modernist

/ˈmɑdɝnɪst/ (US) · /mˈɒdənˌɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/modernist
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a follower of modernism

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a person who follows or supports the ideas of modernism in art, writing, or design.

For teachers: a proponent or practitioner of modernism, particularly in the context of 20th-century arts, literature, or architecture.

- As a modernist, the architect preferred clean lines and simple materials over traditional decorations.
- The early modernists sought to break entirely from nineteenth-century conventions, experimenting with fragmented narratives and abstract forms to reflect a changing world.

### 2. relating to modernism

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

relating to the style of modernism, which focuses on new ideas rather than old traditions.

For teachers: characteristic of or relating to the movements of modernism in the arts or social sciences.

- The museum is famous for its collection of modernist paintings from the 1920s.
- The city's skyline is defined by modernist skyscrapers that prioritise functional efficiency and geometric simplicity over ornamental detail.

### 3. molecular gastronomy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a style of cooking that uses science and new techniques to change how food looks and feels.

For teachers: pertaining to the culinary arts of molecular gastronomy, involving the application of scientific principles to food preparation.

- The chef prepared a modernist dish where the olives were turned into tiny liquid bubbles.
- Modernist cuisine often employs laboratory equipment like centrifuges and liquid nitrogen to deconstruct traditional flavours and reassemble them in unexpected textures.

## Examples

- The modernist designed a house with large glass walls.
- As a dedicated modernist, the architect rejected decorative ornaments in favor of clean lines and functional spaces.
- While traditionalists clung to representational art, the modernist sought to capture the fragmented reality of post-war life through abstract forms and unconventional narrative structures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.