fin de siècle

[ fan duh sye-kluh ]
/ fɛ̃ də ˈsyɛ klə /
French.

noun

the end of the 19th century.

adjective

Sometimes fin-de-siècle. of, relating to, or characterized by concepts of art, society, etc., associated with the end of the 19th century.

Words nearby fin de siècle

British Dictionary definitions for fin de siecle

fin de siècle
/ French (fɛ̃ də sjɛklə) /

noun

the end of the 19th century, when traditional social, moral, and artistic values were in transition

adjective fin-de-siècle

of or relating to the close of the 19th century
decadent, esp in artistic tastes

Cultural definitions for fin de siecle

fin de siècle
[ (fann duh see-ek-luh) ]

The end of the nineteenth century; the phrase is French for “end of the century.” Fin de siècle is particularly used to describe the period's self-conscious artistic movements and a sophisticated despair that became popular at the time. Oscar Wilde is one of the best-known fin-de-siècle figures.