romanticism

noun

ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈman-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

rə-

1

often capitalized

a(1)

: a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement originating in the 18th century, characterized chiefly by a reaction against neoclassicism and an emphasis on the imagination and emotions, and marked especially in English literature by sensibility and the use of autobiographical material, an exaltation of the primitive and the common man, an appreciation of external nature, an interest in the remote, a predilection for melancholy, and the use in poetry of older verse forms

(2)

: an aspect of romanticism

b

: adherence to a romantic attitude or style

2

: the quality or state of being romantic

romanticist

rō-ˈman-tə-sist 

rə-

noun often capitalized

Examples of romanticism in a Sentence

Try not to discourage the romanticism of college students.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a certain romanticism surrounding issued military watches, the origins of which are difficult to articulate. —Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 14 May 2024

Celebrating a taste for storytelling and innate romanticism, Weir has reinforced his own role in the Hollywood establishment, all the while keeping his distance from the American movie industry. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024

Hogle's books are as spritely as a perfect spring day, packed with genuine heartache, deep romanticism, and a fanciful sense of humor. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 May 2024

Elsewhere, frequent collaborator Archy Marshall (King Krule) returns to cushion the album with overcast romanticism. —Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 12 Apr. 2024

Matt Clegg’s cinematography evokes tender romanticism when Tanya and her crush Bryan (Miles Fowler) are on dates, while there’s youthful fluidity in the camera movement, particularly when the family is gracefully circled during a second-act dinner scene. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

Everything in designer Brunello Cucinelli’s world is touched with a certain swooning Italian romanticism. —Max Berlinger, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024

Daniela Melchior, who takes the Kelly Lynch role (the local physician who falls for Dalton), amps up the tough-nut romanticism. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024

Brokeback Mountain makes great use of Gyllenhaal's inherent romanticism, utilizing his loving gaze at every possible juncture as the outgoing Jack. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing romanticism

• pre-romanticism

Kids Definition

romanticism

noun

ro·​man·​ti·​cism rō-ˈmant-ə-ˌsiz-əm 

1

often capitalized : a literary and artistic movement marked chiefly by an emphasis on the imagination and emotions

2

: the quality or state of being romantic

romanticist

-səst 

noun often capitalized