Word of the Day
June 17, 2020
Modernity
The condition or quality of being modern; the state of contemporary society characterized by industrialization, technological advancement, and departure from traditional ways of life.
From French 'modernité', derived from Latin 'modernus' meaning 'just now, recent,' from 'modo' meaning 'just now.'
Usage Examples
- Electricity is essential to modernity, enabling everything from communication to transportation.
- The leap into modernity requires reliable infrastructure that many developing nations still lack.
- True modernity liberates individuals from manual drudgery and opens doors to education and economic opportunity.
From the Show
Robert Bryce’s documentary thesis that electricity is essential to modernity framed the June 17th discussion on global energy poverty and how access to power determines the prosperity of nations.