1.
the present age; current era; nowadays
The current period or era, used to talk about what is happening in the present time.
当代随一の名人だ。
He is the foremost master of our time.
当代きっての実力者と言われている。
He is said to be the most powerful figure of the present age.
当代の若者はスマートフォンなしでは生活できないと言われる。
It is said that young people of the current generation cannot live without smartphones.
2.
current head; present master (of a family, school, or lineage)
The person who currently holds the position of head in a family line, traditional art school, or similar hereditary succession.
当代の家元は十五代目だ。
The current head of the school is the fifteenth generation.
当代の主人が店を継いだ。
The current master took over the shop.
当代の当主は先代の息子で、伝統を大切に守っている。
The current family head is the son of the previous head and carefully preserves the traditions.
Has two distinct uses: referring to the current era (often in literary or formal expressions praising someone as the best of their time) and referring to the person currently heading a lineage or tradition.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 当代随一: the foremost of our time
- 当代きっての: the best/most of our time
- 当代の名人: master of the present age
- 当代の家元: current head of a traditional school
- 当代の当主: current family head
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 現代: modern times / the present day — the most common word for the current era
- 先代: previous generation / predecessor — the person who held the position before the current one
- 次代: next generation — the upcoming successor
- 今の時代: the current age — everyday equivalent of 当代 in sense 1
REGISTER:
Formal/literary. 当代随一 and 当代きっての are particularly common set phrases used as high praise.