Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Unconventional in appearance and behavior: Describes a person or lifestyle that does not conform to mainstream social norms, often associated with artistic, free-spirited, or non-traditional ways of living.
   • Of or relating to Bohemia: Pertaining to the historical region of Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), its people, or its language.

2. Noun:

   • A nonconformist, especially an artist or writer: A person, typically involved in the arts, who lives in an unconventional manner, often prioritizing creative freedom over societal expectations.
   • A native or inhabitant of Bohemia: A person from the historical region of Bohemia.
   • (Often capitalized: Bohemian) A Romani person: A member of the Romani people, an ethnic group traditionally living a nomadic lifestyle. (Note: This usage is often considered outdated or offensive; the preferred modern term is "Romani.")

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She led a bohemian life, traveling with a small backpack and painting in different cities.
  • The café had a bohemian atmosphere, with mismatched furniture and local art on the walls.
• Noun (Nonconformist):
  • The neighborhood was once a haven for artists and bohemians.
  • He was a true bohemian, more interested in poetry than in a steady job.
• Noun (Inhabitant of Bohemia):
  • The composer Bedřich Smetana was a Bohemian.
• Noun (Romani person - dated):
  • In 19th-century literature, a Bohemian was sometimes depicted as a fortune teller. (Historical context)

Advanced Usage

• "Bohemian" as a cultural aesthetic: The term is often used to describe a specific style characterized by eclectic, vintage, or handmade items, and a relaxed, artistic vibe.
  • Her apartment decoration is very bohemian, with tapestries and plants everywhere.

Variants and Related Words

• Bohemianism (noun): The practice of leading a bohemian (unconventional, artistic) lifestyle.
  • His Bohemianism was a reaction against his strict upbringing.

Synonyms

• Adjective (unconventional): Nonconformist, unconventional, alternative, artistic, free-spirited, hippie (informal), offbeat.
• Noun (nonconformist): Nonconformist, free spirit, hippie, beatnik, avant-gardist.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Conventional, traditional, mainstream, conformist, conservative.
• Noun: Conformist, traditionalist.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Bohemian rhapsody: While famously a song title, this phrase conceptually connects to the free-form, expressive, and unconventional nature associated with bohemian art.
• Live a bohemian existence: To live in an unconventional, often artistic and financially modest way.
  • After graduation, they decided to live a bohemian existence in a shared loft in the city.

Adjective

1. unconventional in especially appearance and behavior
   • a bohemian life style
2. of or relating to Bohemia or its language or people

Noun

1. a nonconformist writer or artist who lives an unconventional life
2. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia in the Czech Republic
3. a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America)