Definition of: surrealism

(sə·rē′əl·iz′əm) noun
A movement in 20th century literature and art which attempts to express and exhibit the workings of the subconscious mind, especially as manifested in dreams and uncontrolled by the reason or any conscious process: characterized by the incongruous and startling arrangement and presentation of subject matter. [<F surréalisme <sur- beyond, above + réalisme realism <réal REAL]
—sur·re′al·ist adjective & noun
—sur·re′al·is′tic adjective
—sur·re′al·is′ti·cal·ly adverb