1. a style or movement in the arts, architecture, literature, etc., that aims to break with classical and traditional forms
Usage: arts and literature
2. modern methods, ideas, or styles; the quality of being modern
3. a movement in Christian theology emphasizing adaptation to modern ideas and methods
Usage: theology

Examples

• The museum’s new wing showcases modernism in 20th-century painting.
• Architectural modernism emphasized clean lines and functional design.
• Joyce’s novels exemplify literary modernism with their experimental techniques.
• The church struggled with modernism and traditional doctrine.
• Critics argued that modernism had lost touch with human values.
• The building’s stark modernism contrasted with the ornate Victorian houses nearby.