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
That golden era of big-band artistry sparked the vision for Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra album and the theatrical brilliance of the night’s performance — a seamless fusion of tradition and modernity that felt like a love letter to New York’s Puerto Rican roots.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 May 2025
From average earnings and net worth to the cost of living and visa opportunities, understanding the Emerald Isle's wealth offers insight into its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Over at Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, a focus was put on exploring the tension between tradition and modernity.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 May 2025
To some, this was a symbol of progress, while others viewed it as part of a sterile modernity cut off from village lifeways.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 May 2025
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Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 May 2025
From average earnings and net worth to the cost of living and visa opportunities, understanding the Emerald Isle's wealth offers insight into its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Over at Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, a focus was put on exploring the tension between tradition and modernity.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 May 2025
To some, this was a symbol of progress, while others viewed it as part of a sterile modernity cut off from village lifeways.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.
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