noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

cubism

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Cubism (noun) means an artistic movement of the early twentieth century in which natural forms are shown as geometric structures made of planes. Example: “The exhibition traces the rise of cubism through paintings from the early 1900s.”

noun

An artistic movement of the early twentieth century in which natural forms are shown as geometric structures made of planes.

"The exhibition traces the rise of cubism through paintings from the early 1900s."

"Cubism broke objects into angular shapes instead of painting them as the eye sees them."

"She wrote her thesis on cubism and its effect on later art."

How to use cubism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn early twentieth-century art style that builds shapes out of geometric planes.

When to use it

It is a standard art-history term and is often written with a capital C.

Memory tip

Think of the word cube to remember that the style is built from geometric shapes.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

analytic cubism

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “cubism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The exhibition traces the rise of _____ through paintings from the early 1900s.

Etymology

The word comes from French cubisme, which is linked to the word cube. One story says it began in 1908 when someone reacted to a Braque canvas with a remark about cubes, though the coinage has also been credited to Matisse and to the critic Louis Vauxcelles.

Origin: French

Frequently asked questions

What is cubism?

Painters broke subjects into flat, angular geometric shapes.

Where does the word cubism come from?

It comes from the French word cubisme, which relates to the word cube. Its exact coinage is disputed.

Is cubism spelled with a capital letter?

It is often capitalised when it names the art movement. Both cubism and Cubism are found.

What is the meaning of cubism?

"cubism" (noun) means an artistic movement of the early twentieth century in which natural forms are shown as geometric structures made of planes.