1 always used before a noun a : of or relating to the present time or the recent past : happening, existing, or developing at a time near the present time
▪ ancient and modern history ▪ He talked about the role of television in modern [=contemporary] politics. ▪ The country's modern [=present] government was formed over 100 years ago. ▪ The earthquake was one of the worst disasters in modern [=recent] times. ▪ Water pollution is a growing problem in the modern world. ▪ the modern American family [=the typical American family living today] ▪ He's known as the father of modern medicine.
b or Modern : of or relating to the current or most recent period of a language
▪ The English that was spoken by William Shakespeare is very different from the modern English spoken today. ▪ She is learning Modern Greek. 2 [more modern; most modern] : based on or using the newest information, methods, or technology
▪ We'll need to have modern [=up-to-date] plumbing and wiring installed in the old house before we can move in. ▪ They live in one of the most modern cities in the world. ▪ modern methods of communication including e-mail and the Internet 3 [more modern; most modern] : of or relating to a style or way of thinking that is new and different
▪ She cut her long hair for a modern look. ▪ He made his old-fashioned apartment look more modern by changing the color of the walls and buying new furniture. ▪ Their latest movie is a modern version of a classic children's story. ▪ She has modern ideas about dating and marriage. — opposite old-fashioned 4 : of or relating to forms of art (such as dance, music, and architecture) in which the styles used are newer and very different from the older and more traditional styles
▪ She loves both ballet and modern dance. ▪ a combination of classical and modern architecture ▪ a museum of modern art