modern language

American  

noun

1. one of the literary languages currently in use in Europe, as French, Spanish, or German, treated as a departmental course of study in a school, college, or university.

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modern language British  

noun

1. any of the languages spoken in present-day Europe, with the exception of English

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Etymology

Origin of modern language

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The earliest evidence is in a language called Sumerian, which doesn’t have any modern language relatives.

From Scientific American • May 18, 2023

“Although ‘Oresteia’ is much older, Rob’s adaptation is full of modern language, and feels like a contemporary family drama, whereas this ‘Hamlet’ uses the original text, and feels of a different time.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2022

Though set in the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago, the play uses modern language — "Jesus is cool" — and imagery, such as paparazzi following Jesus through the streets.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2022

She told the BBC that the structure of modern language curricula "engages students from all backgrounds and enables students of different abilities to access a subject traditionally seen as 'challenging'".

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2022

Others have suggested instead that a change in brain organization around that time, without a change in brain size, made modern language possible.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond