minimalist
minimalist — adjective
1. described using very simple shapes, few colours, and only the most necessary par
described using very simple shapes, few colours, and only the most necessary parts; relating to an art and design style where every extra detail is removed — for example, a room with white walls, a plain wooden floor, and one single lamp.
Quinn gave her room a minimalist look with a grey sofa and white walls.
minimalist + style; concrete domestic scene
The architect won an award for his minimalist building made from glass, steel, and concrete.
Gabriel prefers minimalist fashion and owns only black trousers and plain white shirts.
For a minimalist logo, Min used two straight lines and a small blue circle.
The restaurant's minimalist menu offers only three main dishes and one dessert.
- simple
more general and less tied to an art movement; any uncomplicated thing can be simple
- plain
emphasises lack of decoration; can suggest boringness, which minimalist usually does not
- uncluttered
focuses on the absence of mess rather than a deliberate design choice
文法句型
minimalist + noun
用法筆記
Commonly describes visual things such as architecture, fashion, graphic design, and interior decoration. The positive connotation is 'clean and clear'; the negative connotation is 'bare and cold'.
常見錯誤
2. involving or requiring the smallest possible amount of effort, action, or partic
involving or requiring the smallest possible amount of effort, action, or participation — for example, a government that provides only basic services and leaves everything else to local groups.
The university took a minimalist approach, offering only a one-page guide to new students.
minimalist approach; institutional subject
Greta prefers a minimalist role in group projects and attends only the final presentation.
Critics called the government's response minimalist because it sent no staff or supplies.
Stephanie follows a minimalist parenting style, letting her children solve small problems alone.
Tunde's minimalist email policy means he replies only to messages marked 'urgent'.
- active
involving full participation and effort
- interventionist
willing to get involved and take action, especially about government policy
文法句型
minimalist + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (SIMPLE DESIGN): this sense is about the amount of action or involvement, not about visual simplicity. Frequently describes government policy, management style, or personal habits.
常見錯誤
minimalist — noun
1. an artist, designer, or musician who works in a style that uses only simple shap
an artist, designer, or musician who works in a style that uses only simple shapes, few materials, and basic colours — for example, a painter who creates works using only black lines on a white canvas.
Tara works as a minimalist and makes furniture from a single sheet of bent wood.
a minimalist (countable noun); creative profession
The gallery is showing three Japanese minimalists whose works use only paper and ink.
Manuela became a minimalist after studying the clean lines of Scandinavian design.
Dario's teacher called him a natural minimalist because his drawings used just ten lines.
At the fair, minimalists argued that every extra phone button is a mistake.
- minimalist artist
more specific, makes the creative field explicit
- minimalist designer
narrows to design rather than fine art or music
文法句型
a minimalist
the minimalists (plural, artistic movement)
用法筆記
Can also refer to a composer whose music uses very few notes and simple repeating patterns. Famous minimalists in music include Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
常見錯誤
2. someone who prefers to do the smallest possible amount of work or take the least
someone who prefers to do the smallest possible amount of work or take the least possible amount of responsibility — for example, a team member who only does exactly what is asked and nothing extra.
Mert is a minimalist at work and never volunteers for extra tasks after five o'clock.
a minimalist at [place/domain]; informal workplace register
Christopher is a minimalist cook who boils pasta and calls it dinner.
The committee's minimalists refused to attend any meeting that lasted over thirty minutes.
Trang described herself as a social minimalist, saying she sees friends only once a month.
- slacker
stronger and more negative; implies laziness rather than a deliberate choice to do little
- low-effort person
descriptive rather than a single-word synonym; less natural in conversation
- overachiever
someone who does much more than expected or required
- workaholic
someone who works too much, to the point that it harms their health or relationships
文法句型
a minimalist
用法筆記
Informal and sometimes playful. Unlike sense 1 (ART PRACTITIONER), this is not tied to any artistic philosophy. Can be mildly critical — calling someone a minimalist in this sense suggests they avoid effort.
3. a person who believes that a government or organisation should have very few pow
a person who believes that a government or organisation should have very few powers and should handle only the most basic tasks — for example, someone who thinks the national government should manage only defence, roads, and currency.
Political minimalists argue that local communities, not the state, should run their own schools.
Political minimalists (domain-prefixed noun); argument structure with that-clause
The senator is a well-known minimalist who wants to cut every department budget by half.
Some voters are becoming political minimalists after watching the government waste tax money.
Daichi argues that true minimalists in government should control only the army and the courts.
- small-government advocate
more transparent to learners; makes the political stance explicit
- libertarian
broader philosophy that includes social as well as economic freedom; overlaps but is not identical
- fiscal conservative
focuses on spending restraint rather than limiting the scope of government functions
- interventionist
someone who believes the government should take an active role in many areas of life
- big-government supporter
someone who favours a large, active government with many public services
文法句型
a political minimalist
a minimalist in politics
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (LOW-EFFORT PERSON): sense 3 is a deliberate political philosophy, not a personal habit. In Taiwan political discourse, the term 小政府 (small government) is the closest local concept, though 'minimalist' is less common as a label.