Synonyms

era

¹ American

[eer-uh, er-uh] / ˈɪər ə, ˈɛr ə /

noun

1. a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc..
  
  The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.
2. Slang. a period of time in a person’s life characterized by something distinctive and noticeable, such as a particular emotional state, relationship, achievement, or interest.
  
  She’s started wearing all black now that she’s in her sad girl era.
  They are definitely in their flop era and could use a complete makeover.
the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned.

She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.
a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date.

The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.
a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology.

Caesar died many years before our era.
a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period.

The year 1492 marks an era in world history.
Geology. a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods.

ERA ² American

abbreviation

Baseball. earned run average.
Emergency Relief Administration.
Equal Rights Amendment: proposed 27th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.

era ¹ British

/ ˈɪərə /

noun

a period of time considered as being of a distinctive character; epoch
an extended period of time the years of which are numbered from a fixed point or event

the Christian era
a point in time, esp one beginning a new or distinctive period

the discovery of antibiotics marked an era in modern medicine
geology a major division of geological time, divided into several periods

the Mesozoic era

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ERA ² British

/ ˈiːrə /

acronym

(in Britain) Education Reform Act: the 1988 act which established the key elements of the National Curriculum
(in the US) Equal Rights Amendment: a proposed amendment to the US Constitution enshrining equality between the sexes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

era Scientific

/ îr′ə /

A division of geologic time, longer than a period and shorter than an eon.

Related Words

See age.

Etymology

Origin of era

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin aera “fixed date, era, epoch (from which time is reckoned),” probably special use of Latin aera “counters,” plural of aes “piece of metal, money, brass”; akin to Gothic aiz, Old English ār ore, Sanskrit ayas “metal”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was an impressive way to launch his Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally era - which promises a much clubbier sound than his previous work.

From BBC

He believes this is a "golden era" for peptides and that they will play a huge part in the future of healthcare.

From BBC

“It’s the industrial revolution—people going from farmland into factories—but we don’t know what the factories are yet,” Kerr said of the AI era.

From The Wall Street Journal

And even though these characters deserved far better than the screenplay their era would allow, it doesn’t mean their impact is for naught.

From Salon

The company synonymous with Buffett’s corporate stewardship and savvy investing stepped into a new era in January with Abel’s ascendance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023