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

While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026

Philippe Delhotal has done a strong job with the Hermès range, and its relentless modernity, and a monochrome Slim d’Hermès Squelette Lune in titanium was a welcome addition. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026

While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo. —Peter White, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026

With an experimental energy, distinct aesthetic and craftsmanship, the interplay of these materials for two of the brand’s signature collections merges the worlds of heritage and modernity. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for modernity

• eternity
• fraternity
• maternity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity