Contemporary
Definition
Contemporary is an adjective and noun. As an adjective, it describes something existing, occurring, or originating in the same time period, or belonging to the present day. As a noun, it refers to a person or thing that exists or existed at the same time as another.
Parts of Speech
- Adjective
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/
- Respelling: kuhn-TEM-puh-rair-ee
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛmpərəri/
- Respelling: kuhn-TEM-puh-ruh-ree
Etymology
The word "contemporary" originates from the Medieval Latin "contemporarius," meaning "of the same time." This derives from "com-" (together) and "temporarius" (of time), which stems from "tempus" (time). The term entered English in the 17th century, first as a noun and later as an adjective.
Derivatives
- Contemporarily (adverb)
- Contemporariness (noun)
- Contemporize (verb)
- Contemporaneous (adjective)
- Contemporaneity (noun)
Synonyms
- Modern
- Current
- Simultaneous
Antonyms
- Past
- Ancient
- Historical
Usage
The term "contemporary" is commonly used to refer to things associated with the present time, or to describe people and events that existed in the same period. For example, "She enjoys contemporary art," or "Shakespeare was a contemporary of Marlowe."
Related Terms
- Modernity: The quality or condition of being modern.
- Simultaneity: The state of happening or existing at the same time.
- Epoch: A period in history marked by notable events or developments.
Detailed Definitions
Adjective
- Belonging to or occurring in the present time: Refers to things associated with the current era.
- Example: "He has a deep appreciation for contemporary music."
- Existing or happening at the same time as something else: Describes things or people that coexist or coexisted in the same time period.
- Example: "These two artists were contemporary rivals."
Noun
- A person or thing living or existing at the same time as another: Refers to someone or something from the same period as another entity.
- Example: "Einstein and Freud were contemporaries in their fields."
contemporary
A contemporary scene showcasing a living room fitted with modern furniture and the latest technology, individuals dressed in the latest fashion trends, and a cityscape lined with skyscrapers and advanced infrastructure, all reflecting the modern and current style of today's world.
The contemporary art exhibit features works by living artists.
The mosaic transforms a Roman emperor's portrait into a contemporary piece that honors history and modern creativity.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 当代的 (Dāngdài de) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /tɑŋ˧˥.taɪ̯˧˥ də/
- Respelling: dang-dai de
- 同时代的 (Tóngshídài de) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /tʰʊŋ˧˥.ʂɻ̩˧˥.taɪ̯˧˥ də/
- Respelling: tong-shi-dai de
🇮🇳 Hindi
- समकालीन (Samakālīn) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /səm.kɑː.liːn/
- Respelling: sa-ma-ka-leen
- समकालीन (Samakālīn) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /səm.kɑː.liːn/
- Respelling: sa-ma-ka-leen
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Contemporáneo - as in current or modern
- IPA: /kon.tem.poˈɾa.ne.o/
- Respelling: con-tem-po-ra-ne-o
- Coetáneo - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /ko.eˈta.neo/
- Respelling: co-e-ta-ne-o
🇫🇷 French
- Contemporain - as in current or modern
- IPA: /kɔ̃.tɑ̃.pɔ.ʁɛ̃/
- Respelling: con-tem-po-rain
- Contemporain - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /kɔ̃.tɑ̃.pɔ.ʁɛ̃/
- Respelling: con-tem-po-rain
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- معاصر (Muʿāṣir) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /muˈʕaː.sɪr/
- Respelling: mu-a-sir
- معاصر (Muʿāṣir) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /muˈʕaː.sɪr/
- Respelling: mu-a-sir
🇧🇩 Bengali
- সমসাময়িক (Samaśāmẏik) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /ʃɔm.ʃaː.mɔj.ik/
- Respelling: sha-msha-moy-ik
- সমসাময়িক (Samaśāmẏik) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /ʃɔm.ʃaː.mɔj.ik/
- Respelling: sha-msha-moy-ik
🇷🇺 Russian
- Современный (Sovremenny) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /sə.vrʲɪˈmʲen.nɨj/
- Respelling: so-vre-men-ny
- Современник (Sovremennik) - as in a contemporary person
- IPA: /sə.vrʲɪˈmʲen.nʲɪk/
- Respelling: so-vre-men-nik
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Contemporâneo - as in current or modern
- IPA: /kõ.tẽ.puˈɾɐ.nju/
- Respelling: con-tem-po-ra-ne-o
- Contemporâneo - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /kõ.tẽ.puˈɾɐ.nju/
- Respelling: con-tem-po-ra-ne-o
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Kontemporer - as in current or modern
- IPA: /kon.tem.poˈrer/
- Respelling: kon-tem-po-rer
- Kontemporer - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /kon.tem.poˈrer/
- Respelling: kon-tem-po-rer
🇩🇪 German
- Zeitgenössisch - as in current or modern
- IPA: /tsaɪ̯t.ɡəˈnœ.sɪʃ/
- Respelling: zeit-ge-nos-sisch
- Zeitgenosse - as in a contemporary person
- IPA: /tsaɪ̯t.ˈɡɛ.nɔ.sə/
- Respelling: zeit-ge-nos-se
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 現代の (Gendai no) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /ɡeɴ.da.i no/
- Respelling: gen-dai no
- 同時代の (Dōjidai no) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /doː.dʑi.da.i no/
- Respelling: do-ji-dai no
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Hiện đại - as in current or modern
- IPA: /hjɛn˧˧ ɗaːj˧˧/
- Respelling: hien dai
- Đương thời - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /ɗuəŋ˧˧ tʰoj˧˧/
- Respelling: duong thoi
🇰🇷 Korean
- 현대의 (Hyŏndae-ui) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /hjʌn.dɛ.ɰi/
- Respelling: hyeon-dae-ui
- 동시대의 (Dongshidae-ui) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /doŋ.ɕi.dɛ.ɰi/
- Respelling: dong-shi-dae-ui
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Çağdaş - as in current or modern
- IPA: /ˈtʃaː.dɑʃ/
- Respelling: cha-dash
- Çağdaş - as in a contemporary person
- IPA: /ˈtʃaː.dɑʃ/
- Respelling: cha-dash
🇵🇰 Urdu
- معاصر (Muʿāṣir) - as in current or modern
- IPA: /muˈʔaː.sɪr/
- Respelling: mu-a-sir
- ہمعصر (Humʿaṣr) - as in from the same time period
- IPA: /hʊmˈʔaː.sɪr/
- Respelling: hum-a-sir
