An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The act of modernizing; the state of being modernized; something modernized.
   

2. A pattern of social and economic change initiated in the 17th century in Western Europe and subsequently extended to many other parts of the world. Its characteristics include secularization, rationalization in political and economic life, industrialization, urbanization, and increased level of popular involvement in public affairs.

See also: Verbal noun of → modernize; → -tion.