Having happened a short while ago.
Up-to-date; not old-fashioned or dated.
Having done something a short while ago that distinguishes them as what they are called.
I met three recent graduates at the conference.
Particularly in geology, palaeontology, and astronomy: having occurred a relatively short time ago, but still potentially thousands or even millions of years ago.
(capitalised as "Recent") Of the Holocene, particularly pre-21st century.