modern

1 of 2

adjective

mod·​ern ˈmä-dərn How to pronounce modern (audio)
 nonstandard  ˈmä-d(ə-)rən
1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past : contemporary
the modern American family
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from a relevant remote past to the present time
modern history
2
: involving recent techniques, methods, or ideas : up-to-date
modern methods of communication
3
capitalized : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development of a language
Modern English
4
: of or relating to modernism : modernist
Modern art has abandoned the representation of recognizable objects.
modernly adverb
modernness noun

modern

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a person of modern times or views
b
: an adherent of modernism : modernist
2
: a style of printing type distinguished by regularity of shape, precise curves, straight hairline serifs, and heavy downstrokes

Examples of modern in a Sentence

Adjective Water pollution is a growing problem in the modern world. He's known as the father of modern medicine. The English that was spoken by William Shakespeare is very different from the modern English spoken today. She is learning Modern Greek. They live in one of the most modern cities in the world. modern methods of communication including e-mail and the Internet She cut her long hair for a modern look. He made his old-fashioned apartment look more modern by changing the color of the walls and buying new furniture. Their latest movie is a modern version of a classic children's story. She has modern ideas about dating and marriage. Noun the leaders of the American suffragists were originally regarded by many people as uppity moderns who should have stayed in their place
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The best dressed stars of the evening were those who embodied classic evening glamour—but in ways that felt fresh, modern, and at times, entirely unexpected. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 The modern Spanish-style house has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, wood beam ceilings, a pool and a tennis court. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 Fashion darling Zendaya arrived in a marvelous deep purple Armani Privé gown styled by Law Roach, her look screamed old Hollywood, but it was injected with a modern energy. Gabrielle Union and her stylist Thomas Christos had other ideas for her red carpet appearance. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Mar. 2024 The American actor has brought his unique flair to each red carpet, pairing classic tailoring with modern accessories that command attention. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Video Slots Video slots stand out as a modern evolution, transforming the simple act of spinning reels into a thrilling, immersive adventure that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional slot machines. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 One topic that seems to vex most modern families is technology and the use of smartphones. Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Parham thinks that kids, and especially kids who are not white, would benefit from learning about the crossroads of the Mediterranean back before modern notions of racial hierarchy existed. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 For the last 17 years or so, Ms. Mathers and her husband lived in a spare modern house on a hill in Astoria overlooking the Columbia River. Penelope Green, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
Noun
The midcentury modern remodeled by Brad Burch at IndexAD features views of Boulder and the mountains and backs to open space. Sara B. Hansen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024 Unlike its Art Deco predecessors, finished in wood and bronze, the S.S. U.S. was mid-century modern, its upper works all aluminum, intended to look to the future and also be completely fire-resistant. Brittany Murray/medianews Group/long Beach Press-Telegram Via Getty Images, Curbed, 19 Jan. 2024 To be resilient moderns, Jews needed, rather, a liberal nation rooted in the Hebrew language and a part of the ancient territory; a new Hebrew culture of poets like Hayim Nahman Bialik and, later, Nathan Alterman. Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024 If mid-century modern is your vibe, this royal blue velvet couch that’s 63 percent off would make a stunning addition to your living room. Alex Nelson, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Welcome back to this blend of mid-century modern and a kitschy take on Americana. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023 From Victorian to mid-century modern, there’s a palette for that Standing in front of an array of hundreds — perhaps thousands — of two- or three-inch paint chips at the hardware store can be intimidating. Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 If Scandinavian modern is more your speed, keep your cabinets natural and paint the walls a subtle pastel. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023 Here’s a handsome midcentury modern that just hit the market: Awkward interior remodels of a 1960 house at 6323 N.W. Manor Drive in Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood have been replaced by thoughtful renovations conceived by the owners and executed by Epic Construction. Jeastman, oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'modern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Late Latin modernus, from Latin modo just now, from modus measure — more at mete

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of modern was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near modern

Cite this Entry

“Modern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modern. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

modern

1 of 2 adjective
mod·​ern ˈmäd-ərn How to pronounce modern (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the recent past
2
: of or relating to the period from about 1500 to the present
modern history
Modern English
modernity noun
modernness noun

modern

2 of 2 noun
: a person of modern times or ideas

More from Merriam-Webster on modern

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