kitsch
KITCH
/kɪtʃ/
Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.
It is a judgmental term, but can be used affectionately by those who enjoy 'tacky' things.
The story behind the word. Borrowed from German in the 1920s. It likely comes from the dialectal 'kitschen' (to smear) or 'verkitschen' (to sell cheaply). It originally described cheap, mass-produced art in Munich.
Word relationships
- tackiness: Tackiness is a general lack of style; kitsch is a specific type of gaudy, sentimental style.
- schmaltzy: Schmaltzy refers specifically to excessive sentimentality, often in music or film.
- sophistication: The quality of being cultured, elegant, and refined.
Commonly confused with
- camp: Camp is a deliberate, theatrical style; kitsch is often (but not always) unintentional bad taste.
Collocations
- pure kitsch
- high kitsch
- tourist kitsch
Example sentences
- "The living room was a monument to kitsch, filled with pink flamingos and velvet paintings of Elvis." Describing home decor.
- "'Kitsch is the absolute denial of shit... kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence.'" A famous literary quote.
Memory hook
Kitsch is 'kitchen' art—common and often tacky. Tacky but fun.
When not to use
Do not use to describe something truly elegant or minimalist.
Fun facts
- Garden gnomes are often cited as the ultimate example of garden kitsch.
Explore more words
sentimental, pretentious, gauche, quirky, outlandish, nostalgia
Also appears in
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