postmodern

P3O1S1T1M3O1D2E1R1N1

adjective

Relating to what follows the modern era.

Less commonFirst used 1919Scrabble 15

Meanings

adjectivepostmodern (comparative more postmodern, superlative most postmodern)

comparative more postmodern · superlative most postmodern · alternative pomo · alternative po-mo · alternative post-modern

  1. literallyRelating to what follows the modern era.First known use 1919

    The nearer is a fact to the temporary limits of knowledge, the more implicated becomes this regression and the more blurred ought to be statement of fact. [Percy W.] Bridgman of Harvard recently has emphasized this conclusion, but his postmodern position has as yet made small impression.

    1937 May, John Q. Stewart, “An Astronomer Looks at the Modern Epoch”, in The Scientific Monthly, volume 44, number 5, page 402
    1 more example

    A new book by Peter Drucker, author of “The New Society” and “America's Next Twenty Years,” will be published next Wednesday by Harper. In “Landmarks of Tomorrow,” Mr. Drucker discusses the postmodern world and how it differs from the old “modern” world that began with Descartes and the empiricists.

    1958 December 31, “Books–Authors”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
  2. Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism, especially as represented in art, architecture, literature, science, or philosophy that reacts against an earlier modernism.

    What I am objecting to is that aspect of postmodern thought that rejects the idea of any objective reality.

    2001 Apr, Kristen Renwick Monroe, “Paradigm Shift: From Rational Choice to Perspective”, in International Political Science Review, volume 22, number 2, page 167 n22
    2 more examples

    For an illustration of the differences between the traditional, positivist curriculum and the more postmodern reconceptualized curriculum, see Hanley and Montgomery.

    2005 Mar, Janet R. Barrett, “Planning for Understanding: A Reconceptualized View of the Music Curriculum”, in Music Educators Journal, volume 91, number 4, page 25

    Bioleninism adapts this same logic to the postmodern West. It extends beyond socioeconomic class to encompass the full spectrum of biological dysfunction.

    2026 January 21, Chad Crowley, “What is Bioleninism?”, in American Buddhist Net, archived from the original on 16 Jun 2026
nounpostmodern (plural postmoderns)

plural postmoderns · alternative pomo · alternative po-mo · alternative post-modern

  1. A postmodernist.

    Trajal Harrell frames his program notes for “Twenty Looks or Paris Is Burning at the Judson Church (S)” with the potentially academic question, “What would have happened in 1963 if someone from the ball scene in Harlem had come downtown to perform alongside the early postmoderns at Judson Church?”

    2009 October 3, Claudia La Rocco, “Where All the World’s a Fashion Show”, in New York Times

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof or relating to postmodernism

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pósti
  3. Proto-Italic*posti
  4. Old Latinposte
  5. Latinpost
  6. Englishpost-
  7. Englishmodern
  8. Englishpostmodern

From post- + modern.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 後現代 /后现代
  • 後現代 /后现代 (hòuxiàndài)Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Czech postmoderní
  • postmoderníOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Danish postmoderne
  • postmoderneOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Dutch postmodern
  • postmodernOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Finnish postmodernistinen
  • postmodernistinenOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
French postmoderne
  • postmoderneOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
German postmodern, nachmodern
  • postmodernOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
  • nachmodernOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Hindi उत्तर-आधुनिक
  • उत्तर-आधुनिक (uttar-ādhunik)Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Hungarian posztmodern
  • posztmodernOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Icelandic póstmódern
  • póstmódernOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Italian postmoderno
  • postmodernoOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Japanese ポストモダン
  • ポストモダン (posutomodan)Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Māori angatuahou
  • angatuahouOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Polish postmodernistyczny
  • postmodernistycznyOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Portuguese pós-moderno
  • pós-modernoOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Spanish posmoderno
  • posmodernoOf, relating to, or having the characteristics of postmodernism
Cite this entry
APA

postmodern. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmodern

MLA

“postmodern.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmodern. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “postmodern,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmodern.

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