First Known Use: 1631
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
See contemporary defined for English-language learners
See contemporary defined for kids
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Origin of CONTEMPORARY
com- + Latin tempor-, tempus
Related to CONTEMPORARY
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>.
Rhymes with CONTEMPORARY
apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, imaginary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, preliminary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, vocabulary, voluptuary
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
See contemporary defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CONTEMPORARY
1638
Related to CONTEMPORARY
- Synonyms
- coeval
CONTEMPORARY 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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