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contemporary

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Contemporary means existing at the same time or of the present time period. (adjective)

An example of contemporary are the works of Fitzgerald and Hemingway.
An example of contemporary is furniture in the modern style.

A contemporary is a person living around the same time. (noun)

An example of contemporary is Fitzgerald to Hemingway.

See contemporary in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

living or happening in the same period of time
of about the same age
of or in the style of the present or recent times; modern

noun pl. contemporaries

a person living in the same period as another or others
a person or thing of about the same age or date of origin as another

See contemporary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(kən-tĕmˈpə-rĕrˌē)

adjective

Belonging to the same period of time: a fact documented by two contemporary sources.
Of about the same age.
Current; modern: contemporary trends in design.

noun pl. con·tem·po·rar·ies

One of the same time or age: Shelley and Keats were contemporaries.
A person of the present age.

Related Forms:

con·temˌpo·rarˈi·ly (-tĕmˌpə-rârˈə-lē) adverb

Usage Note: When contemporary is used in reference to something in the past, its meaning is not always clear. Contemporary critics of Shakespeare may mean critics in his time or critics in our time. When the context does not make the meaning clear, misunderstanding can be avoided by using phrases such as critics in Shakespeare's time or modern critics.

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