era

1 of 2

noun

ˈer-ə 

ˈe-rə,

ˈir-ə 

1

a

: a fixed point in time from which a series of years is reckoned

b

: a memorable or important date or event

especially : one that begins a new period in the history of a person or thing

2

: a system of chronological notation computed from a given date as basis

3

a

: a period identified by some prominent figure or characteristic feature

the era of the horse and buggy

b

: a stage in development (as of a person or thing)

c

: a large division of geologic time usually shorter than an eon

Paleozoic era

ERA

2 of 2

abbreviation

1

earned run average

2

Equal Rights Amendment

Synonyms

Noun

• day
• age
• time
• period
• epoch

Choose the Right Synonym for era

period, epoch, era, age mean a division of time.

period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Examples of era in a Sentence

Noun

the era of the horse and buggy

We're just now entering an era of great prosperity.

His death marks the end of an era.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Though twentieth-century audiences were far less likely to see a sideshow in person than had been crowds in Browning’s era, this may have been a mark in Freaks’s favor. —JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025

Those past titles didn’t come amid this new era of unlimited transfers and name, image and likeness money, which have flattened the top of the sport. —Chris Vannini, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025

The 22-year-old Australian influencer grew up in the 2010s era makeup YouTubers — when NikkieTutorials, Jaclyn Hill and Laura Lee were the reigning queens of social media — and was completely taken by their creative looks. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

At the same time, the present era is an epoch in which wars go on seemingly forever—now simmering, now boiling—without end. —Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin aera, from Latin, counters, plural of aer-, aes copper, money — more at ore

First Known Use

Noun

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing era

• Christian era
• Islamic era
• Muslim era
• vulgar era

Rhymes for era

• cara
• naira
• narra
• sara
• sarah
• sclera
• terra
• vera
• verra
• antisera
• cladocera
• hemiptera

Kids Definition

era

noun

ˈir-ə  ˈer-ə 

ˈē-rə

1

: a period of time beginning with some special date or event

the Christian era

2

: an important or outstanding period of history

the Revolutionary era

3

: one of the five major divisions of geologic time

Paleozoic era