modern

/ˈmɑdərn/

/ˈmɒdən/

Other forms: moderns; modernly

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.

Definitions of modern

1. adjective

   ahead of the times
   synonyms: advanced, forward-looking, innovative

   progressive

   favoring or promoting progress
2. adjective

   relating to a recently developed fashion or style
   “their offices are in a modern skyscraper”

   synonyms: mod, modernistic

   fashionable, stylish

   being or in accordance with current social fashions
3. adjective

   characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture
   synonyms:

   nonclassical

   not classical
4. adjective

   belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
   “modern art”

   “modern furniture”

   “modern history”

   “totem poles are modern rather than prehistoric”

   synonyms:

   current

   occurring in or belonging to the present time

   late

   being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

   contemporary, modern-day

   characteristic of the present

   neo

   (used as a combining form) recent or new

   red-brick, redbrick

   of or relating to British universities founded in the late 19th century or the 20th century

   ultramodern

   extremely modern

   moderne

   of or relating to a popularization of art deco that used bright colors and rectangular shapes

   new

   not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

   antonyms:

   nonmodern

   not modern; of or characteristic of an earlier time

   antebellum

   belonging to a period before a war especially the American Civil War

   horse-and-buggy

   relating to the time before automobiles (and other inventions) changed the way people lived in industrialized nations

   gothic, mediaeval, medieval

   as if belonging to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned and unenlightened

   old-world

   characteristic of former times especially in Europe

   Victorian

   typical of the moral standards or conduct of the age of Queen Victoria

   old

   of long duration; not new

   past

   earlier than the present time; no longer current
5. noun

   a contemporary person, especially one who promotes new ideas
   synonyms: neoteric

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
6. noun

   a typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes
   synonyms: Bodoni, Bodoni font, modern font

   antonyms:

   old style

   a typeface (based on an 18th century design) distinguished by irregularity and slanted ascender serifs and little contrast between light and heavy strokes

   type of:

   proportional font

   any font whose different characters have different widths