epochal

adjective

ep·​och·​al ˈe-pə-kəl 

ˈe-ˌpä-kəl

1

: of or relating to an epoch

2

: uniquely or highly significant : momentous

… during his three epochal years in the Assembly.

—C. G. Bowers

also : unparalleled

epochal stupidity

epochally adverb

Examples of epochal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The epochal Apollo 11 moon mission of 1969 put her planning to the test. — Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Adjust to their method, and the minor shifts in texture or rhythm start to feel epochal. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026

Carol Kaye Carol Kaye could be on this list just on the strength of her work on the Beach Boys’ epochal 1966 album Pet Sounds. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 8 Sep. 2026

The former touts Mohamed Salah, an epochal star with ample motivation after his fraught final campaign with Liverpool. — Christopher Hamill, New York Times, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1