contemporary
kuhn-TEHM-pruh-ree
Contemporary (adj) means belonging to or happening in the present time; modern. Example: “The museum has a wing devoted to contemporary art.”
adj
1
Belonging to or happening in the present time; modern.
"The museum has a wing devoted to contemporary art."
"She prefers contemporary music to the songs her parents grew up with."
"The flat has a bright, contemporary design with plenty of glass."
2
Existing or occurring during the same period as something else.
"Shakespeare was contemporary with Christopher Marlowe."
"The letter is contemporary with the events it describes, so it is a reliable source."
"These two paintings are contemporary and were probably made in the same workshop."
noun
1
A person who lived or worked during the same time period as someone else.
"Einstein and his contemporaries transformed modern physics."
"Many of her contemporaries at university went on to become teachers."
"The poet was admired by his contemporaries but forgotten after his death."
How to use contemporary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "happening now / modern" or "from the same time period as something else."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "contemporaneous," which is more formal and always means "occurring at the same time" rather than "modern."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- contemporaries
- Comparative
- more contemporary
- Superlative
- most contemporary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a wing devoted to _____ art.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin contemporarius, from Latin con- ("together") + temporarius, from tempus ("time").
Synonyms
View more →
modern
current
present-day
up-to-date
latest
new
coeval
coetaneous
contemporaneous
coincident
cotemporal
cotemporaneous
Antonyms
noncontemporary
uncontemporary
Related words
Rhymes for contemporary
See all rhymes for 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.
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