Word

futurism

noun C1

/ˈfjuːt͡ʃəɹɪzəm/

Meanings

noun

an early 20th-century art and cultural movement that emphasized modern technology, speed, and energetic motion

noun

a style or approach in art and design that looks forward and uses sleek, modern, technology-inspired forms

Definition

Futurism is an early 20th-century art movement that celebrated modern technology, speed, and dynamic movement.

Futurism was an artistic and cultural movement that began in Italy in the early 1900s. It praised modern life—machines, urban energy, and rapid motion—and tried to capture this feeling in painting, sculpture, literature, and design. Futurist works often use sharp angles, repeated forms, and a strong sense of speed and force.

Examples

I wrote my thesis on futurism and how its obsession with speed reshaped visual composition.
You can see traces of futurism in the exhibition’s fractured lines and machine-like silhouettes.
She argued that futurism’s celebration of industry was as much political as it was aesthetic.
They compared futurism with other avant-garde movements to explain why it felt so radically modern.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse futurism with general “futuristic” design, but futurism specifically refers to a historical early 20th-century movement.