contemporaneous
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “contemporaneous” mean?
adjective.existing or occurring in the same period of time.
SAT Usage
The term is often found in passages discussing history, art, or literature, emphasizing the relationship between events or figures that share the same time frame. It suggests not just coexistence but also the potential influence and interaction between contemporaneous entities, distinguishing it from terms like "simultaneous," which strictly implies timing without the relational context.
Common Confusions
Contemporaneous implies a relationship or influence between events or figures existing in the same time period, while simultaneous usually suggests events occurring at the exact same moment without any relational context.
Example Sentences
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The two artists were contemporaneous, working in the same decade.
Word Parts: How to Remember “contemporaneous”
Break “contemporaneous” into its parts: co- (together, with) + -tempor- (time). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
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Prefix:
co-together, with (Latin) -
Root:
-tempor-time (Latin)