What does "cubism" mean?
An artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes.
Cubism
noun
noun ·3 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes.
- Grammar: cubism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: art, art movement, cubist movement, geometric art.
- Useful contrasts: naturalism, photorealism, realism.
- Usage evidence: Ted Nash explored cubism and the four sides of a square through the idea of fourths in this composition. For example, four musical chords are repeated in this work.
How to use "cubism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cubism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cubism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cubism" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cubism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "art" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes. capitalized, countable, often, uncountable
"Matisse coined the name Cubism as a derisive joke."
- 2 an artistic movement in France beginning in 1907 that featured surfaces of geometrical planes wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Ted Nash explored cubism and the four sides of a square through the idea of fourths in this composition. For example, four musical chords are repeated in this work."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cubism"?
Common synonyms include: art, art movement, cubist movement, geometric art, geometric style, pictorial technique.
How do you use "cubism" in a sentence?
Ted Nash explored cubism and the four sides of a square through the idea of fourths in this composition. For example, four musical chords are repeated in this work.
Etymology
From French cubisme. One story is that, in 1908, as a new canvas by Braque was being carried past, someone said, “Encore des cubes! assez de cubisme!”. The quotations below ascribe the coinage to Matisse. Sometimes attributed to French art critic Louis Vauxcelles who popularized the term. See also the word cube (from Latin cubus, from Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos)).