Meaning & use
contemporary
Belonging to or reflecting the present time.
See it in a sentence
The gallery pairs historical portraits with contemporary photography.
The novel explores contemporary questions about life in crowded cities.
A note on using this word
Contemporary can mean present-day or existing in the same period. The phrase 'contemporary with' usually points to the second meaning.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Existing or happening during the same period as something else.
The two surviving letters are contemporary with the construction of the bridge.
3. noun
A person who lives or works during the same period as another person.
The painter exchanged ideas with several of her contemporaries.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contemporary”, then compare your use with the examples above.