Meaning & Definition of word "Romanticism"

Romanticism

/roʊˈmæntɪˌsɪzəm/

noun:

  • 1. A literary and artistic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that emphasized individualism, emotion, and the glorification of nature and the past.
    • Example: The works of Wordsworth and Coleridge are often considered exemplary of romanticism.
  • 2. A tendency to regard or represent things in an idealized or exaggerated manner.
    • Example: His romanticism about the countryside led him to overlook its hardships.
  • 3. The quality of being romantic; an inclination towards love and romance.
    • Example: Their relationship was filled with a sense of romanticism that was reminiscent of classic literature.

Etymology

Derived from the word 'romantic', suggesting a focus on emotion and individual experience.

Common Phrases and Expressions

romantic ideals:

Philosophies emphasizing love, beauty, and nature.

romantic era:

A period in history associated with the romantic movement.

romantic notion:

An idea that is influenced by emotion and imagination.

Related Words

romantic:

Pertaining to or characterized by an emphasis on emotion and individual experience.

sentimentalism:

The practice of emphasizing emotions, especially in literature and art.

nostalgia:

A sentimental longing for the past, often influenced by romantic ideals.

Slang Meanings of romanticism

Meaning: To get lost in one's emotions or fantasies.

Example Sentence: He was totally romanticizing the situation, making it seem better than it really was.

Meaning: Being overly sentimental or idealistic about love or relationships.

Example Sentence: Don't start romanticizing your high school crush; it was all just a phase.