Definition of: modern

(mod′ərn) adjective
1. Pertaining to the present or recent period; not ancient.
2. Obs. Commonplace; common; trite.
—noun
1. A person of modern times, or modern views or characteristics: also mod′ern·er.
2. Printing A style of type face characterized by contrasting heavy down–strokes and thin cross–strokes. [<LL modernus recent <L modo just now]
—mod′ern·ly adverb
—mo·der·ni·ty (mo·dûr′nə·tē), mod′ern·ness noun Synonyms (adj.): fresh, late, new, novel, recent. Modern history pertains to any period since the Middle Ages; modern literature, modern architecture, etc., are not strikingly remote from the styles and types prevalent today. That which is late is somewhat removed from the present, but not far enough to be called old. That which is recent is very close to the present, but not quite so sharply distinguished from the past as new. See NEW.