modern
Americanadjective
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of or relating to present and recent time; not ancient or remote.
modern city life.
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characteristic of present and recent time; contemporary; not antiquated or obsolete.
modern viewpoints.
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of or relating to the historical period following the Middle Ages.
modern European history.
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of, relating to, or characteristic of contemporary styles of art, literature, music, etc., that reject traditionally accepted or sanctioned forms and emphasize individual experimentation and sensibility.
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(initial capital letter) new.
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Typography. noting or descriptive of a font of numerals in which the body aligns on the baseline, as 1234567890.
noun
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a person of modern times.
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a person whose views and tastes are modern.
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Printing. a type style differentiated from old style by heavy vertical strokes and straight serifs.
adjective
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of, involving, or befitting the present or a recent time; contemporary
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of, relating to, or characteristic of contemporary styles or schools of art, literature, music, etc, esp those of an experimental kind
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belonging or relating to the period in history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present
noun
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a contemporary person
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printing a type style that originated around the beginning of the 19th century, characterized chiefly by marked contrast between thick and thin strokes Compare old face
Usage
What does modern mean? Modern means relating to the present time, as in modern life. It also means up-to-date and not old, as in modern technology. Apart from these general senses, modern is often used in a more specific way to refer to the current historical period. Even more specifically, it refers to a style or movement in the arts developed during the 1900s and characterized by innovation and experimentation that broke from past traditions. Such art is often described as belonging to the movement of modernism (which is sometimes capitalized). Modern can sometimes be used as a noun referring to a person in modern times, as in The worldviews of ancients and moderns are very different, but this is uncommon. Example: Many people are overwhelmed by the fast pace of the modern workplace.
Related Words
Modern, recent, late apply to that which is near to or characteristic of the present as contrasted with any other time. Modern is applied to those things that exist in the present age, especially in contrast to those of a former age or an age long past; hence the word sometimes has the connotation of up-to-date and, thus, good: modern ideas. That which is recent is separated from the present or the time of action by only a short interval; it is new, fresh, and novel: recent developments. Late may mean nearest to the present moment: the late reports on the battle.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of modern
First recorded in 1490–1500; from Middle French moderne, from Late Latin modernus, equivalent to Latin mod(o), mod(ō), “lately, just now” (originally ablative singular of modus mode 1 ) + -ernus, adjective suffix of time
Explanation
Modern means contemporary or in the now. A beehive hairdo is not so modern, though depending on the wearer, it could still be hip. When talking about time, modern is used to mean what's happening right now. Texting your friends rather than calling them is modern. A modern building is more likely to be made out of glass and steel than bricks. In art, however, modern has a more specific meaning, as it defines a style of art produced from the 1860s to the 1970s and includes everyone from Monet to Miro. To be correct, use contemporary to mean art that is being created now.
Vocabulary lists containing modern
"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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Words to Describe a Place
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President Obama's second inaugural address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Rerum Novarum”—which backed calls for safe working conditions and against the concentrations of wealth—laid the foundation of Catholic social teaching, helping shape the politics and welfare systems of modern Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
Aside from its dramatic claws, the insect's body shares similarities with modern Gelastocoridae, also called toad bugs, which are land-dwelling predators.
From Science Daily • May 25, 2026
Surprisingly, this discovery about a horse’s gait sheds light on a much more modern debate—whether A.I. is on a path to consciousness.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
"Our nations are strategically aligned on all of the key issues that will define the new century -- all the great challenges that are before us now in the modern era," he said.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
If there was one subject which engaged her energies even more completely than modern clothing it was spoiled food.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.