age of reason

noun phrase

1
: the time of life when one begins to be able to distinguish right from wrong
2
: a period characterized by a prevailing belief in the use of reason
especially, Age of Reason : the 18th century in England and France

Examples of age of reason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That vengeful justification yielded during the Enlightenment, during a broader societal conversion to an age of reason. Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of age of reason was in 1650

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Cite this Entry

“Age of reason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/age%20of%20reason. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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