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
Henry KammHis 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
Naomi Rosenblum2
: 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
Peter N. MillerExamples of modernity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rift-cut oak cabinetry, wood floors, and stone surfaces ground the space, while Fleetwood high-performance glazing and a custom steel fireplace add a touch of modernity.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025
The Big Bang represents a revolution in watchmaking, a perfect union of tradition and modernity.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025
Intimate family portraits and edge pieces confronting modernity.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
Schiaparelli’s latest show took a more traditional turn, its goal to be making modernity out of antiquity, but up until this show, Daniel Roseberry has taken great care to make a body of work at Schiaparelli that honors and practically parodies the intricate details of human body features.
—Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 5 Mar. 2025
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Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025
The Big Bang represents a revolution in watchmaking, a perfect union of tradition and modernity.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025
Intimate family portraits and edge pieces confronting modernity.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
Schiaparelli’s latest show took a more traditional turn, its goal to be making modernity out of antiquity, but up until this show, Daniel Roseberry has taken great care to make a body of work at Schiaparelli that honors and practically parodies the intricate details of human body features.
—Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modernity
Cite this Entry
“Modernity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modernity. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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