modern
modern — adjective
1. using or based on the newest ideas, designs, or technology — opposite of old-fas
using or based on the newest ideas, designs, or technology — opposite of old-fashioned or traditional.
The hospital bought modern scanning machines that give clearer results.
collocation: modern machines / modern equipment
Olivia's kitchen has a modern look with flat cabinets and stainless steel handles.
collocation: modern look / modern style
Modern teaching methods encourage students to ask questions instead of just listening.
Many families prefer modern furniture because it is simpler and easier to clean.
- up-to-date
more informal; suggests recent improvements rather than broad innovation
- cutting-edge
stronger; suggests the very newest, often in science or technology
- contemporary
focuses on current time, not necessarily newness or innovation
- new
broader and simpler; does not imply a contrast with traditional styles
- old-fashioned
common opposite in everyday use
- outdated
strongly negative; suggests something is no longer useful
- traditional
neutral opposite; does not carry negative judgment
文法句型
modern + noun
be + modern
用法筆記
Frequently applied to objects, methods, or ideas that feel new rather than old-fashioned. When describing technology or design, it often contrasts with 'traditional'. Distinguish from 'contemporary' — 'modern' emphasizes innovation and newness, not merely the present time.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the current era or the recent past — in historical terms, this usual
relating to the current era or the recent past — in historical terms, this usually means from around the year 1500 up to the present day.
Modern medicine has found treatments for diseases that were deadly two hundred years ago.
collocation: modern + field of study (modern medicine, modern history, modern art)
The gallery's modern art wing displays paintings from the past eighty years.
In modern times, most people communicate through smartphones rather than letters.
Hui's research examines the role of women in modern Japanese society.
- present-day
more specific to the current moment; less formal
- current
emphasises the very recent present; shorter time frame
- contemporary
overlaps with modern but lacks the historical-period meaning
文法句型
modern + period noun
in modern + noun
用法筆記
Common in historical and academic contexts to distinguish the period after the Middle Ages from ancient or medieval eras. 'Modern history' typically starts around 1500 CE. Does not describe individual objects or fashions — use sense 1 for that.
常見錯誤
modern — noun
1. someone who holds up-to-date opinions and prefers current ways of living rather
someone who holds up-to-date opinions and prefers current ways of living rather than old-fashioned or traditional ones.
The debate between tradition-minded villagers and the moderns grew heated at the town meeting.
often in plural: the moderns
In the 1920s, moderns shocked elders with short hair and jazz.
The professor called herself a modern who believed old customs must yield to new ideas.
Vikram considers himself a modern who embraces new technology and social change.
- progressive
broader; can describe anyone open to social change, not just cultural attitudes
- traditionalist
someone who prefers old ways and resists change
- conservative
political or social context; resists rapid change
文法句型
the moderns
a (true) modern
用法筆記
Slightly formal or literary. The plural form 'moderns' is more common than the singular. Often appears in discussions of cultural change or generational conflict.
常見錯誤
2. an artist, writer, or thinker who supported Modernism — a movement in the arts a
an artist, writer, or thinker who supported Modernism — a movement in the arts and literature that broke away from traditional styles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Picasso ranks among the most influential moderns of the early twentieth century.
moderns within Modernist art movement
The exhibition at the Centre Pompidou focuses on European moderns who changed painting forever.
Literary moderns like Virginia Woolf abandoned straightforward storytelling for experimental narratives.
The exhibit compares French moderns from the 1910s to their American followers a decade later.
- modernist
more precise and more common in art criticism; interchangeable with 'modern' in this sense
- traditionalist
in art, someone who works in classical or pre-modern styles
文法句型
the moderns (of a movement)
用法筆記
Almost always used in art, literature, and architecture criticism. Refers specifically to followers of the Modernist movement (roughly 1890–1950). Nearly interchangeable with 'modernist'. Learners are unlikely to need this word outside of academic arts contexts.
常見錯誤
❌ 'My friend is a modern in how she dresses.' — This confuses the art-movement noun sense with the adjective sense. For personal style, use the adjective 'modern' or 'fashionable'.
❌ 'Shakespeare was a modern.' — Shakespeare belonged to the early modern period but was not a Modernist. This noun sense refers to the 20th-century art movement, not any person from modern times.
3. a style of typeface design from the late 1700s that features even letter shapes,
a style of typeface design from the late 1700s that features even letter shapes, fine straight lines at the ends of strokes, and thick main strokes — for example, the Bodoni font.
The book designer chose a modern typeface to give the title an elegant feel.
collocation: modern typeface / modern font
Bodoni is a classic modern, with sharp contrast between thick and thin strokes.
When the printer switched to a modern style, the newsletter looked cleaner but less warm.
Shirin noticed the wedding invitation used a modern, giving the text a formal look.
- old style
an earlier typeface category with angled serifs and less contrast between strokes
文法句型
a modern typeface
in modern style
用法筆記
A specialist typography term. Learners studying graphic design or printing history will encounter it, but general English learners can safely skip this sense. Contrasts with 'old style' and 'transitional' typeface categories.