belonging to the same age; living or occurring in the same period of time
2.
existing or occurring at the present time
3.
conforming to modern or current ideas in style, fashion, design, etc
4.
having approximately the same age as one another
nounWord forms: plural-raries
5.
a person living at the same time or of approximately the same age as another
6.
something that is contemporary
7. journalism
a rival newspaper
▶ USAGE Since contemporary can mean either of the same period or of the present period, it is best to avoidthis word where ambiguity might arise, as in a production of Othello in contemporary dress. Modern dress or Elizabethan dress should be used in this example to avoid ambiguity