modern greats: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Journalistic, Academic
Quick answer
What does “modern greats” mean?
Individuals in recent history who have achieved outstanding excellence and lasting influence in their field.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Individuals in recent history who have achieved outstanding excellence and lasting influence in their field.
A specific, often curated, list or category of highly accomplished people from the modern era, particularly in arts, sciences, or public life, whose work is seen as foundational or transformative. Can also refer to a collection of their works (e.g., a book series, a course).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in UK academic and publishing contexts (e.g., 'Oxford's Modern Greats' refers to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics). In the US, the phrase is more likely found in journalistic or cultural criticism contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, it can have a specific institutional or course-related connotation (PPE). In the US, it is more purely evaluative and cultural.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, but more firmly lexicalized in specific UK academic settings.
Grammar
How to Use “modern greats” in a Sentence
[be] considered one of the modern greats[count/name] the modern greats of [field][study/read] the modern greatsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “modern greats” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used in leadership/management literature: 'He is studied among the modern greats of business strategy.'
Academic
Common in humanities and social sciences for course titles or canonical lists: 'The module examines the modern greats of sociological thought.'
Everyday
Uncommon. Used in cultured discussion of arts/sports: 'Many consider her one of the modern greats of tennis.'
Technical
Unlikely, except in historiography or cultural studies as a descriptive category.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “modern greats”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “modern greats”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “modern greats”
- Using it as a singular (*a modern greats). Correct: 'a modern great' or 'the modern greats'.
- Confusing 'modern' with 'contemporary'. 'Modern greats' are often deceased or from a past era.
- Misspelling as 'modern grates'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but by extension it can refer to their collected works (e.g., 'a library of modern greats').
It is fluid but generally means from the late 19th/early 20th century to the recent past. It implies the figure's work belongs to a distinctly post-traditional era.
Yes, though the term often implies a legacy that has been fully assessed, so it's more cautiously applied to living individuals.
A 'classic' usually refers to a work or author from antiquity or the established canon. A 'modern great' is a canonical figure from the modern era. A modern great's work may become a 'modern classic'.
Individuals in recent history who have achieved outstanding excellence and lasting influence in their field.
Modern greats is usually formal, journalistic, academic in register.
Modern greats: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɒd.ən ˈɡreɪts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɑː.dɚn ˈɡreɪts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Secure one's place among the modern greats.”
- “A nod to the modern greats.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MODERN art gallery (MODERN) with huge (GREAT) statues of famous 20th-century scientists and artists.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS SIZE / STATURE (greats), HISTORY IS A LANDSCAPE WITH PEAKS (the 'greats' are the mountains).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'modern greats' most specifically institutionalized?