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Glite Dictionary
🛋️ From the 1950s 🕰️ Middle of century
midcentury

midcentury

2 4.8
From the middle of the 20th century, often describing furniture and design
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɪdˌsɛnʧəri/
translation icon : de mediados de siglo
  • Image above: The midcentury modern couch that came with 70s plaid cushion covers.

Examples

  • The exhibit showcased midcentury artwork that reflects the social changes of the 1950s.

  • The style of the new figures, by contrast, is typical of midcentury prints produced by firms both in Antwerp and, indeed, throughout much of Europe.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Real estate agents also use the site to highlight midcentury homes for sale.

    Blog text (6)

  • I know for a fact that there are people who don't like Midcentury Modern furniture.

    Blog text (3)

  • When Jake and Mercedes started dating, they would hit stores, looking for midcentury finds.

    Blog text (6)

  • There is much to admire in the far-sighted liberalism that guided the best of midcentury foundation philanthropy.

    Blog text (25)

  • The renovation of the house highlighted its unique midcentury architecture and design features.

  • Her collection includes several beautiful midcentury sofas that capture the essence of that era.

Synonyms

retro
vsmidcentury
9 5.0

A style that copies clothes or design from the recent past

is the actual historical style from about 1940 to 1960

Surface Forms

midcentury positive

Morphology

midcentury = century (transparent) = mid + century

The meaning is a direct composition of 'mid' (middle) + 'century' (100-year period), so learners who know both parts can infer the sense.

Etymology

The word midcentury comes from mid- meaning 'middle' and century meaning '100 years', and it often points to the middle of the 20th century, about 1940 to 1960, when 'midcentury modern' design was popular. So, when we call furniture or a room midcentury, we mean it looks like that middle-of-century style.