modern

American  

[mod-ern] / ˈmɒd ərn /

adjective

1. of or relating to present and recent time; not ancient or remote.

   modern city life.

2. characteristic of present and recent time; contemporary; not antiquated or obsolete.

   modern viewpoints.

3. of or relating to the historical period following the Middle Ages.

   modern European history.

4. 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.

5. (initial capital letter) new.

6. Typography. noting or descriptive of a font of numerals in which the body aligns on the baseline, as 1234567890.

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noun

1. a person of modern times.

2. a person whose views and tastes are modern.

3. Printing. a type style differentiated from old style by heavy vertical strokes and straight serifs.

modern British  

/ ˈmɒdən /

adjective

1. of, involving, or befitting the present or a recent time; contemporary

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of contemporary styles or schools of art, literature, music, etc, esp those of an experimental kind

3. belonging or relating to the period in history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present

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noun

1. a contemporary person

2. 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

• 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.

Example Sentences

Rather than simple or uniform, their behavior appears to have been shaped by social dynamics, environmental pressures, and interactions with other groups, including early modern humans.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

“Rooster”’s Russo ticks all the boxes for the modern American male.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

"With limited archival information currently available – including uncertainty over the ship's age, captain, and final moments – the project team hopes modern survey techniques will provide long-awaited answers."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Commissions have changed over the years, allowing modern visionaries — art houses and creatives from across the globe — to showcase grand spectacles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The city was a glittering modern metropolis, where humans lived in luxury, all thanks to the tireless work of robots.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• contemporary
• current
• modernized
• present-day
• state-of-the-art
• stylish