modernity

noun

mo·​der·​ni·​ty mə-ˈdər-nə-tē 

mä-,

-ˈder- 

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

Some residents embraced the digital currency as a step toward modernity, while others remain wary and concerned about its volatility, dependence on internet access, and lack of tangibility. —Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

At 1921 Mount Dora, elevated fare from celebrated chef Norman Van Aken pays homage to local Florida ingredients with an eye toward modernity and sustainability. —Susan Hall Mahon, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2025

From formal attire to daytime royal engagements, Queen Letizia’s style tends to gravitate toward pieces that merge modernity and tradition with a seamless design. —Julia Teti, WWD, 9 Jan. 2025

The album is entirely cohesive yet musically ambitious in its foundation of live instrumentation, blending tradition and modernity with genres like salsa, reggaeton, dembow and plena, creating a patchwork of the island’s richest musical resources. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1