English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

orientalism

Quiz me More like this

Orientalism (noun) means a tendency, especially in 19th-century Europe, to depict Eastern subjects using styles thought to be typical of the East.

noun
1
A tendency, especially in 19th-century Europe, to depict Eastern subjects using styles thought to be typical of the East.
2
A word, expression or custom that comes from the East.
3
A condescending outlook, held in the West, towards societies in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like orientalism.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Test yourself on “orientalism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Etymology

From French orientalisme, from oriental ("eastern, Oriental"). The sense "patronizing Western attitude" was popularized by Edward Said's 1978 book Orientalism. It is equivalent to Oriental plus -ism.

Rhymes for orientalism

See all rhymes for orientalism →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of orientalism?
"orientalism" (noun) means a tendency, especially in 19th-century Europe, to depict Eastern subjects using styles thought to be typical of the East.
What are the different meanings of orientalism?
"orientalism" has 3 main meanings: 1. A tendency, especially in 19th-century Europe, to depict Eastern subjects using styles thought to be typical of the East; 2. A word, expression or custom that comes from the East; 3. A condescending outlook, held in the West, towards societies in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.
Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0