Modern

Modern is an adjective used to describe the present or recent period, as well as ideas, styles, and practices associated with it. In everyday speech it signals novelty, current standards, or progressive change, and it is often distinguished from ancient or traditional forms. The word comes from Latin modernus, related to modo meaning “just now” or “recently.”

Historically, the modern era refers to the period from roughly the late 18th century to the present, marked by industrialization, urbanization, scientific advances, and secularization in many societies. In the arts and humanities, “modern” signals movements that sought to break with established conventions, culminating in modernism, which flourished from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century.

Modern art and architecture embraced experimentation and new materials, favoring abstraction, simplification, and function. The broad use of the term extends to design, literature, film, and music, where “modern” can indicate styles defined by innovation rather than strict adherence to tradition. In design and architecture, modern style often emphasizes clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and functional forms; early modernist architecture made use of steel, glass, and open interiors, ideas later reinterpreted by postmodern and contemporary trends.

The term remains broad and context-dependent. In technology and daily life, “modern” can denote the latest generation or current standards, while in cultural discourse it can be a moving target as time advances. See also modernism, modernity, and contemporary.