Dictionary

1contemporary

adjective con·tem·po·rary \kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē, -ˌre-rē\

: happening or beginning now or in recent times

: existing or happening in the same time period : from the same time period

Full Definition of CONTEMPORARY

1
:  happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time
2
a :  simultaneous
b :  marked by characteristics of the present period :  modern, current
con·tem·po·rar·i·ly \-ˌtem-pə-ˈrer-ə-lē\ adverb
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Origin of CONTEMPORARY

com- + Latin tempor-, tempus
First Known Use: 1631

Synonym Discussion of CONTEMPORARY

contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, synchronous, simultaneous, coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time. contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them <Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin>. contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people <contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping>. coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons <two stars thought to be coeval>. synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals <synchronous timepieces>. simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time <the two shots were simultaneous>. coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship <the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year>.

2contemporary

noun

: a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another person

plural contemporar·ies

Full Definition of CONTEMPORARY

1
:  one that is contemporary with another
2
:  one of the same or nearly the same age as another

First Known Use of CONTEMPORARY

1638
CONTEMPORARIES Defined for Kids

1contemporary

adjective con·tem·po·rary \kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē\

Definition of CONTEMPORARY for Kids

1
:  living or occurring at the same period of time <Mark Twain and Jack London were contemporary writers.>
2
:  modern 1 <contemporary musicians>

Word Root of CONTEMPORARY

The Latin word tempus, meaning time,and its form temporis give us the roots temp and tempor. Words from the Latin tempus have something to do with time. Something temporary lasts only a short time. Someone or something contemporary lives or occurs at the same time as someone or something else. A tempo is the speed at which music is performed in time.

2contemporary

noun
plural con·tem·po·rar·ies

Definition of CONTEMPORARY for Kids

:  a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another <Mark Twain and Jack London were contemporaries.>

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