adjective

1. of the present or recent times; specif.,
   1. of or having to do with the latest styles, methods, or ideas; up-to-date
   2. designating or of certain contemporary trends and schools of art, music, literature, dance, etc.
2. of or relating to the period of history after the Middle Ages, from c. 1450 to the present day
3. designating the form of a language in its most recent stage of development

Etymology: Fr moderne < LL modernus < L modo, just now, orig. abl. of modus: see mode

noun

1. a person living in modern times
2. a person having modern ideas, beliefs, standards, etc.
3. Printing a style of typeface characterized by heavy down strokes contrasting with narrow cross strokes