contemporary
12 synonyms and 2 antonyms for contemporary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Belonging to or happening in the present time; modern.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Medieval Latin contemporarius, from Latin con- ("together") + temporarius, from tempus ("time").
Full origin of contemporary →Frequently asked questions
What does “contemporary” mean?
The word “contemporary” means belonging to or happening in the present time; modern. In plain terms, either "happening now / modern" or "from the same time period as something else.".
How do you pronounce “contemporary”?
“Contemporary” is pronounced kuhn-TEHM-pruh-ree (/kənˈtɛm.pəˌɹɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “contemporary” in a sentence?
Here is “contemporary” used in a sentence: “The museum has a wing devoted to contemporary art.”
What is another word for “contemporary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “contemporary” include coetaneous, coeval, contemporaneous, coincident, cotemporal and cotemporaneous.
What is the opposite of “contemporary”?
The opposite of “contemporary” — its antonyms — are noncontemporary and uncontemporary.
What part of speech is “contemporary”?
Depending on how it is used, “contemporary” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “contemporary” come from?
The word “contemporary” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin contemporarius, from Latin con- ("together") + temporarius, from tempus ("time").
Is “contemporary” a common word?
“Contemporary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between contemporary and contemporaneous?
Both can mean "happening at the same time," but contemporary usually points to the present day — modern, current — while contemporaneous almost always describes two things occurring in the same past period. Contemporary art means today's art; contemporaneous accounts are records written at the time an event happened.
What is the difference between contemporary and modern?
The two overlap heavily and often swap freely. Modern stresses newness and up-to-date style, and in art can reach back a century. Contemporary stresses "of the present moment," what exists right now. Contemporary art is being made today, whereas modern art can name an earlier historical movement.
Can contemporary be used as a noun?
Yes. A contemporary is a person living or working at the same time as another, or of roughly the same age. Shakespeare and Marlowe were contemporaries. Used this way it simply means someone belonging to the same period, without any judgment about quality or style.
Is contemporary a formal word?
It is neutral and works in both everyday and formal writing, appearing comfortably in art criticism, journalism and casual speech alike. Because it can mean either "present-day" or "of the same era," context usually makes the intended sense clear.