MODERN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

MODERN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms modern American [ mod -ern] / ˈmɒd ərn / adjective of or relating to present and recent time; not ancient or remote. modern city life. characteristic of present and recent time; contemporary; not antiquated or obsolete. modern viewpoints. of or relating to the historical period following the Middle Ages. modern European history. 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. (initial capital letter) new . Typography. noting or descriptive of a font of numerals in which the body aligns on the baseline, as 1234567890. noun a person of modern times. a person whose views and tastes are modern. Printing. a type style differentiated from old style by heavy vertical strokes and straight serifs. modern British / ˈmɒdən / adjective of, involving, or befitting the present or a recent time; contemporary of, relating to, or characteristic of contemporary styles or schools of art, literature, music, etc, esp those of an experimental kind belonging or relating to the period in history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 noun a contemporary person 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 "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 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 antimodern adjective antimodernly adverb antimodernness noun hypermodern adjective modernly adverb modernness noun nonmodern adjective nonmodernly adverb nonmodernness noun premodern adjective promodern adjective pseudomodern adjective quasi-modern adjective supermodern adjective unmodern adjective 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. Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing modern "Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising" Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Words to Describe a Place Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! President Obama's second inaugural address Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! 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. I like it when incumbents are operating on outdated systems because that creates a substantial opportunity to leapfrog competitors with modern integrated technology. From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026 The report was visionary, bold, even brilliant, and it’s as close as we got to a modern Edenic L.A. From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026 Of course, the nut itself has been cultivated for thousands of years in Persia, modern day Iran, where pistachios are still the country’s number one commodity crop. From Salon • May 6, 2026 In a state where modern politics was shaped by rationalist thought and the Self-Respect Movement - which envisioned a society where marginalised castes would have equal rights - the visible turn to faith feels deliberate. From BBC • May 5, 2026 When he thought of it that way, he realized that complex modern financial markets were as good as designed to reward a person with Asperger’s who took an interest in them. From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis Related Words contemporary current modernized present-day state-of-the-art stylish 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.