1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past : contemporary
the modern world
the modern American family
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from a relevant remote past to the present time
modern history
2
: involving recent techniques, methods, or ideas : up-to-date
modern methods of communication
made their house look more modern
a modern retelling of a classic children's story
3
Modern
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development of a language
Modern English
mod·ern·ness
ˈmä-dərn-nəs 
÷ˈmä-d(ə-)rən-
plural -es
: modernity
the modernness or antiquity of an action … has nothing to do with its fitness for poetical representation—
Matthew Arnold
Matthew ArnoldExamples of modern in a Sentence
Adjective
Water pollution is a growing problem in the modern world.
He's known as the father of modern medicine.
The English that was spoken by William Shakespeare is very different from the modern English spoken today.
She is learning Modern Greek.
They live in one of the most modern cities in the world.
modern methods of communication including e-mail and the Internet
She cut her long hair for a modern look.
He made his old-fashioned apartment look more modern by changing the color of the walls and buying new furniture.
Their latest movie is a modern version of a classic children's story.
She has modern ideas about dating and marriage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Among the Thugs is less useful as a lens on modern soccer.
—Leander Schaerlaeckens
june 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Although subsequent work employed modern technology — from digital modeling software to industrial robots — an underlying rationale endured.
—CNN Money, 8 June 2026
In Topawa, guests visit the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center to learn how the desert’s original stewards have flourished for millennia despite the modern line dividing their ancestral lands.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for modern
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Blending Old World charm with modern hospitality, Pella offers an inviting escape steeped in culture, history and warm community spirit.
—Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Among the Thugs is less useful as a lens on modern soccer.
—Leander Schaerlaeckens
june 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Although subsequent work employed modern technology — from digital modeling software to industrial robots — an underlying rationale endured.
—CNN Money, 8 June 2026
In Topawa, guests visit the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center to learn how the desert’s original stewards have flourished for millennia despite the modern line dividing their ancestral lands.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for modern
Cite this Entry
“Modern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modern. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
modern
1 of 2 adjective
mod·ern
ˈmäd-ərn
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the recent past
2
: of or relating to the period from about 1500 to the present
modern history
Modern English
modern
2 of 2 noun
: a person of modern times or ideas
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
