Meaning & use
Dadaism
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
An early 20th-century art movement that mocked conventional art and reason, often using absurd or random elements.
Grammar: Uncountable: Dadaism was a movement; you do not say 'a Dadaism'.
Patterns
- the Dadaism movement
- a work of Dadaism
- Dadaism in art
The gallery held an exhibition on Dadaism and its influence.
Dadaism rejected traditional rules and often used everyday objects.
Her essay explains how Dadaism began during World War I.
noununcountablefigurative
A deliberately irrational or mocking approach in any creative field, inspired by the Dada movement.
Grammar: Used figuratively for a style or attitude, not a single object.
Patterns
- a touch of Dadaism
- political Dadaism
The film has a streak of Dadaism in its strange humor.
Some critics see Dadaism in modern internet memes.
Common combinations
- the Dadaism movement
- The Dadaism movement started in Zurich.
- an example of Dadaism
- A urinal signed as art is a famous example of Dadaism.
- Dadaism and surrealism
- The course compares Dadaism and surrealism.
- influenced by Dadaism
- The designer was influenced by Dadaism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Dada
- The shorter, more common name for the same movement; Dadaism is the -ism form.
- anti-art
- A broader term for art that rejects art traditions; Dadaism is one specific historical example.
Word family
- Dadaist noun
- An artist who followed Dadaism.
- Dadaistic adjective
- Relating to or typical of Dadaism.
Commonly confused: Dadaism or dada?
Dadaism vs dada
In child language, 'dada' means father; Dadaism is an art movement.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Dadaism' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Dadaism is an early 20th-century art movement. The other options describe unrelated things.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Dadaism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.