modernity

noun

mo·​der·​ni·​ty mə-ˈdər-nə-tē How to pronounce modernity (audio)
mä-,
-ˈder- How to pronounce modernity (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being or appearing to be modern
Such details as street lamps, telephone booths, mailboxes and manhole covers have been expensively recreated to recall a past that makes even young Hungarians nostalgic and Western tourists regret the flashy modernity of their cities.Henry Kamm
His early work portrayed the idiosyncratic behavior of his zany upper-class family whose wealth and quest for modernity impelled them to try out all the latest inventions and devices of the time, from electric razors to automobiles to flying machines.Naomi Rosenblum
2
: the modern era or world and especially the ideas and attitudes associated with the modern world
For all his conservatism, Henry Adams's encounter with modernity led neither to romantic antiquarianism … nor to an intensified commitment to those very liberal arts that were under siege in a market society.Peter N. Miller

Examples of modernity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Impressions of the week: Overall, this season successfully married tradition with modernity, presenting collections that were both timeless and forward-thinking. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025 Now in its 11th year, the nine-course menu features both traditional and homegrown recipes, curated to juxtapose heritage with modernity. Natalie Keng, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025 Similarly, we’re told that this island has been struggling with modernity, experiencing an existential crisis because its age-old traditions and seemingly unchanging ways are being encroached upon by technology and outsiders. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025 Transform the Present, Shape Your Future Emporio Armani is a powerful case study in the art of balancing heritage with modernity. Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for modernity 

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of modernity was in 1635

Dictionary Entries Near modernity

Cite this Entry

“Modernity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modernity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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