Postmodernists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who criticize traditional theories and ideologies, often blending various styles in art and literature
2. people who challenge established norms and conventions in society and culture with innovative perspectives
3. thinkers associated with pluralism and skepticism regarding objective truths, recognizing the complexity of modern experience

Etymology: "Postmodernists" is the plural of "postmodernist," a noun formed by attaching the suffix "-ist" to "postmodern." The prefix "post-" comes from Latin "post," meaning "after," and "modern" comes from Late Latin "modernus," so the whole word literally means someone who follows the modern. The suffix "-ist" passed into English through Old French and Latin from Greek "-istēs," used for a person who practices or adheres to something. The adjective "postmodern" came first, and the noun was built from it by the same pattern that gives us "realist" or "capitalist." Once "postmodern" was in circulation as a label for a style of thought that turned against the idea of a single, objective truth, English speakers needed a word for the people who held those views, and "postmodernist" filled that role. Its plural, "postmodernists," is simply the form used when referring to more than one such thinker.