1. people who live or work at the same time as another person
Usage: plural form; typically refers to peers or people of similar age or status
2. people living during the same historical period
Usage: broader sense; may include people of different ages or professions

Examples

• Shakespeare and Marlowe were contemporaries in Elizabethan England.
• Many of her contemporaries became famous writers, but she chose a different career.
• The artist's work was not appreciated by his contemporaries during his lifetime.
• Einstein and Bohr were scientific contemporaries who often debated quantum mechanics.
• She studied the letters written by her historical contemporaries to understand the period better.
• His contemporaries at university went on to become influential leaders in their fields.