# contemporaneous

/kənˌtɛmpɝˈeɪniəs/ (US) · /kəntˌɛmpɔːɹˈeɪniəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contemporaneous
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

happening or existing at the same time as something else. You use this to describe things that are from the same period in history.

For teachers: occurring or existing at the same time as another event or person. Often used to describe historical documents or events that are from the same era.

## Examples

- The two events were contemporaneous.
- The historian compared the contemporaneous accounts of the battle to understand what actually happened.
- While the two authors lived in different countries, their contemporaneous works reveal a shared concern for the social changes occurring during the late nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.