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modern Definition

mod·ern (mäd′ərn)

adjective

  1. of the present or recent times; specif.,
    1. of or having to do with the latest styles, methods, or ideas; up-to-date
    2. designating or of certain contemporary trends and schools of art, music, literature, dance, etc.
  2. of or relating to the period of history after the Middle Ages, from c. 1450 to the present day
  3. designating the form of a language in its most recent stage of development

Etymology: Fr moderne < LL modernus < L modo, just now, orig. abl. of modus: see mode

noun

  1. a person living in modern times
  2. a person having modern ideas, beliefs, standards, etc.
  3. Printing a style of typeface characterized by heavy down strokes contrasting with narrow cross strokes

modern Related Forms

mod′·ernly adverb mod′·ern·ness noun

modern Synonyms

modern

modif.

  1. Up to date

    current, new, up-to-date, latest, up-to-the-minute, stylish, modish, chic, smart, conforming, swank, late, recent, of the present, prevailing, prevalent, faddish, avant-garde, present-day, advanced, modernistic, streamlined, breaking with tradition, untraditional, new-fashioned, having the new look, contemporary, in vogue, in use, in the air, common, just out, state-of-the-art, space-age, ahead of its time, postmodern, with it*, in the swim*, newfangled*, sharp*, smooth*, mod*, cool*, now*, trendy*; see also fashionable, fresh 1.

    Antonyms old-fashioned*, out-of-date*, out-of-style.

  2. Having the comforts of modern life

    modernistic, modernized, renovated, functional, with modern conveniences, done over, having modern improvements, strictly modern; see also convenient 1, improved 1.

    Antonyms Victorian*, dilapidated*, run down. *

  3. Concerning recent times

    contemporary, contemporaneous, recent, concurrent, present-day, coincident, synchronous, twentieth-century, latter-day, mechanical, of the Machine Age, automated, of modern times, modernist; see also now 1, present 1.

    Antonyms old*, medieval*, primordial. See syn. study at new.new.

modern Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • secondary: Until 1984 the Hill's main rivals were Brookdale, the former secondary modern, and posh boy's school Rodney Bennett.
  • smart: Overall, the feeling is smart modern, with confidence in the kitchen and expertise in the service.

Modifies a noun

  • society: The standards of decent modern society were set by the Enlightenment.
  • language: In our modern American language, he might have said, " What's wrong with you, are you crazy?
  • kitchen: Kitchen: Modern, very large kitchen with gorgeous granite worktops.
  • world: In the modern world, Habermas argues, the public sphere has given way to advertising.
  • technology: Some of the more obscure papers explore rudimentary prototypes of modern day technology.
  • era: Now, in the modern day era of Betting Exchanges no-one should find it impossible to get a bet on.

Modifying Another Word

  • thoroughly: The showroom looked thoroughly modern, following its renovation last year, with additional design touches now being introduced by Honda.
  • relatively: The practice of having individual sponsors is relatively modern.
  • surprisingly: Behind the churchyard are the town stocks; of iron rather than the usual wood, they look surprisingly modern.
  • decidedly: It presents nineteenth century comic strips with decidedly modern punchlines.
  • truly: Cork City, the European Capital of Culture 2005, is alive with the cultural richness of a truly modern city.
  • very: It is current and very modern although respectful of the best traditions.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: When it opened in 1968, the complex seemed as modern as a jumbo jet.
  • look: Behind the churchyard are the town stocks; of iron rather than the usual wood, they look surprisingly modern.
  • sound: It still sounds modern, definitely a 2002 production, so to speak.
  • provide: These methods have enormous potential for providing modern, caring, locally-based nurse-led abortion services for women.
  • use: We carefully follow the current national guidelines for dental radiography and use modern, low radiation dose dental x-ray machines.
  • make: In many ways, I think our past has made modern Germany a more thoughtful, considerate country.