kənˈtɛmpəreri 
British kənˈtɛmpərəri
1
: happening or beginning now or in recent times
contemporary [=modern] jazz/poetry/art/furniture
The story is old, but it has importance to contemporary [=current] audiences.
2
: existing or happening in the same time period : from the same time period
The book is based on contemporary accounts of the war. [=accounts of the war that were written when the war was happening]
plural contemporaries
: a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another person
He was a contemporary of George Washington.
She is politically very different from most of her contemporaries.
Cite this Entry
“Contemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/contemporary. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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