1. a philosophy or movement that emphasizes the importance of beauty and artistic values over moral, social, or political considerations
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the 19th-century artistic movement
2. devotion to or emphasis on beauty and artistic taste

Examples

• The aestheticism movement of the late 1800s valued beauty above all else.
• Oscar Wilde was a prominent figure in British aestheticism.
• Her aestheticism was evident in every carefully chosen piece of furniture.
• The museum’s aestheticism sometimes overshadowed its educational mission.
• Critics argued that pure aestheticism ignored social responsibility.
• The designer’s aestheticism created spaces that were beautiful but impractical.