postmodern
UK[ˌpəʊstˈmɒdən]US[ˌpoʊstˈmɑːdərn]
adj
relating to or denoting a style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism that represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by a deliberate mixing of different styles and media, and a general distrust of theories and ideologies.
adj
relating to or characterized by a skeptical, ironic, or playful view of traditional concepts and values in culture, philosophy, or art.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
modern
post
after
modern
modern
Etymology
the term 'postmodern' is a compound formed in english during the mid-20th century by directly combining the prefix 'post-' with the adjective 'modern'. the latin prefix 'post-', meaning "after," is used to signal a period or movement that comes chronologically and conceptually after modernism. the base word 'modern' itself originates from late latin 'modernus', a derivative of the latin adverb 'modo' meaning "just now." the logic of the word is explicitly sequential and critical; it defines itself in relation to what precedes it—the modern era—implying both a temporal succession and a philosophical or aesthetic reaction against modernist principles of order, purity, and grand narratives.
Analysis
Structure: post (after) + modern (modern)
post: from latin 'post', meaning "after, behind". it functions as a prefix indicating temporal or positional succession.
modern: from late latin 'modernus', meaning "of the present time, recent". it functions as the base word denoting the current or contemporary era.
Examples
the building's eclectic design is a classic example of postmodern architecture.
her novels are known for their postmodern play with narrative conventions and authorial voice.
postmodern philosophy often questions the idea of objective truth and universal values.