armory show: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Art History, Academic, Cultural Journalism
Quick answer
What does “armory show” mean?
A major art exhibition held in New York in 1913 that introduced modern European and American art to the US public.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major art exhibition held in New York in 1913 that introduced modern European and American art to the US public.
Refers to the landmark 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art; by extension, it can denote any large, influential, or revolutionary art exhibition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'armoury' is the standard spelling for the military storehouse. The proper name 'Armory Show' remains with US spelling, but UK texts often refer to it descriptively as 'the 1913 Armoury Show' or use the US spelling within quotes.
Connotations
Both dialects associate it strongly with art history. In the US, it carries stronger national cultural significance.
Frequency
Virtually non-existent in everyday speech. Exclusively used in art-historical or high-cultural contexts. Slightly more frequent in US texts due to the event's location.
Grammar
How to Use “armory show” in a Sentence
[The/A/An] Armory/armory show [verb: was, introduced, featured, caused]to organize/host/stage an armory showan armory show of [noun: modern art, sculpture]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “armory show” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gallery aims to armory-show the latest trends every decade.
American English
- The curator wanted to Armory-Show the city with radical new works.
adjective
British English
- It had an armory-show quality in its shocking presentation.
American English
- The event was an Armory Show moment for digital art.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in marketing for a large, disruptive product launch ('It was the armory show of the tech world').
Academic
Central term in American art history courses and papers discussing early 20th-century modernism.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Only used by those with specific knowledge of art history.
Technical
Specific term in art history and curatorial studies to denote a large-scale, avant-garde exhibition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “armory show”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “armory show”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “armory show”
- Misspelling as 'armoury show' when referring specifically to the 1913 US event (though acceptable in UK contexts). Using it to refer to any small art show. Confusing it with the contemporary 'Armory Show' art fair.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring specifically to the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art. When used generically ('an armory show'), it is often lowercased.
No, it famously included many European avant-garde artists like Picasso, Matisse, and Duchamp, which was key to its impact.
Only if you wish to deliberately evoke the scale, modernity, and controversial impact of the original 1913 show. It is a marked, metaphorical usage.
The 1913 show was a one-off historic event. 'The Armory Show' is the name of a contemporary international art fair, begun in 1994, that references the original in name and New York location.
A major art exhibition held in New York in 1913 that introduced modern European and American art to the US public.
Armory show is usually art history, academic, cultural journalism in register.
Armory show: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.mə.ri ʃəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːr.mɚ.i ʃoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Something] caused an Armory Show-level scandal.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of soldiers in an ARMORY being shocked by modern ART - the 1913 show was where American 'art soldiers' met shocking new European ideas.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CULTURAL EARTHQUAKE / A BATTLEGROUND FOR IDEAS (as it was held in a military drill hall and sparked artistic conflict).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Armory Show' primarily known as?