Meaning & use
Googie
Last updated
Meaning
proper nounpropertechnical
A style of American architecture from the 1950s and 1960s with dramatic, space-age shapes and bright signs.
Grammar: Used as a proper noun, often before another noun: 'Googie architecture'.
Patterns
- Googie architecture
- Googie style
The diner is a classic example of Googie architecture, with its sloping roof and neon sign.
Architects study Googie design to understand postwar American optimism.
The old coffee shop was built in the Googie style, complete with a giant flying saucer on the roof.
Common combinations
- Googie architecture
- Googie architecture often featured bold angles and glass walls.
- Googie style
- The motel was rebuilt in a Googie style.
- Googie design
- Googie design used bright colors and plastic materials.
Synonyms and how they differ
- populuxe
- A related term for 1950s consumer design; it covers a broader range of products, not just buildings.
- space age
- Describes a futuristic look inspired by space travel; Googie is a specific architectural movement within that trend.
Commonly confused: Googie or Google?
Googie vs Google
The technology company. Googie is unrelated and pronounced /ˈɡuːɡi/, not /ˈɡuːɡəl/.
Practice
The 1950s diner with a flying-saucer roof is a well-known example of ___ architecture.
Choose one answer.
Googie matches the futuristic mid-century style described. Gothic and Georgian are older European styles, and Google is a company name.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Googie”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.