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

With materials sourced globally - wool suits and cashmere knitwear made in Italy - crafted to the highest standards, each piece speaks to the brand’s dual commitment to tradition and modernity. —Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The entrance carries not just a literal neon sign but a symbolic one: power, news, late nights, modernity, the future, all beckoning. —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Dec. 2024

These names blend modernity with cultural depth, capturing the beauty and spirit of the country. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 2 Dec. 2024

Both pay a price for transgressing the boundaries of what’s deemed acceptable for young white women negotiating the new freedoms of mobility and modernity. —Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1