Ibsenism

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proper noun

The dramatic practice or purpose characteristic of the writings of Henrik Ibsen, whose best-known plays deal with conventional hypocrisies, the story in each play thus developing a definite moral problem.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. The dramatic practice or purpose characteristic of the writings of Henrik Ibsen, whose best-known plays deal with conventional hypocrisies, the story in each play thus developing a definite moral problem.

    Thus reasoned Mrs. Failing, in the facile vein of Ibsenism. She imagined herself to be a cold-eyed Scandinavian heroine.

    1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, XIII [Uniform ed., p. 143]

Origin

From Ibsen + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Ibsenism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ibsenism

MLA

“Ibsenism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ibsenism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ibsenism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ibsenism.

Source: Ibsenism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.