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Contemporary can be confusing because of its slightly different meanings. In everyday use, it generally means simply "modern" or "new". But before the 20th century it instead referred only to things from the same era as certain other things; so, for instance, Jesus was contemporary with the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius, and Muhammad was contemporary with Pope Gregory the Great. And contemporary is also a noun: thus, Jane Austen's contemporaries included Coleridge and Wordsworth, and your own contemporaries were born around the same year that you were.
Examples of contemporary in a Sentence
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Having started as a wooden-boat builder in 1956, Italy’s Comitti yard on Lake Como migrated to modern composites in 2002 and now walks the line between classic looks and contemporary layouts.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
His death drew scores of tributes from industry peers, including contemporaries and those influenced by his magnetic style.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contemporary
Cite this Entry
“Contemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contemporary. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contemporary
1 of 2 adjective
contemporary
2 of 2 noun
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