modernity

/məˈdɜːnɪti/

//məˈdɜːnɪti// noun

"modernity" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“modernity” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #21,006. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#21,006
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
14
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The quality of being modern or contemporary.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

modernity vs modernize
78% similar
modernity vs maternity
78% similar
modernity vs modernist
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for modernity
PropertyValue
Headwordmodernity
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/məˈdɜːnɪti/
Letters9
Frequency rank#21,006
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “modernity” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). modernity lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around modernity (IPA /məˈdɜːnɪti/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #21,006 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for modernity, with forms such as "mdoernity", "mmodernity", and "moddernity". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "modernize", "maternity", "modernist", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From modern + -ity, a calque of Latin modernitās. The correct English form is modernity, spelled M-O-D-E-R-N-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The quality of being modern or contemporary.
  2. 2
    Modern times.
  3. 3
    Quality of being of the modern period of contemporary historiography.

Etymology

From modern + -ity, a calque of Latin modernitās.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • mdoernity
  • mmodernity
  • moddernity
  • modenrity
  • moderinty
  • modernitty
  • modernityy
  • moderniyt
  • modernnity
  • moderntiy
  • moderrnity
  • modrenity
  • moedrnity
  • omdernity

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of modernity - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

mdoernity2mmodernity1moddernity1modenrity2moderinty2modernitty1modernityy1moderniyt2
Edit distance from "modernity"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "modernity"?
"modernity" is spelled M-O-D-E-R-N-I-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /məˈdɜːnɪti/.
What does "modernity" mean?
As a noun, "modernity" means: The quality of being modern or contemporary.
What words are commonly confused with "modernity"?
"modernity" is commonly confused with "modernize", "maternity", "modernist". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "modernity"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "modernity" is /məˈdɜːnɪti/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "modernity"?
From modern + -ity, a calque of Latin modernitās. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “modernity”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-D-E-R-N-I-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /məˈdɜːnɪti/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “modernize” - see the side-by-side comparison. modernity vs modernize
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list