dark age

noun

1

: a time during which a civilization undergoes a decline: such as

a

Dark Ages plural : the European historical period from about a.d. 476 to about 1000

broadly : middle ages

b

or Dark Age : the Greek historical period of three to four centuries from about 1100 b.c.

—often plural

2

or Dark Age

a

: the primitive period in the development of something

—usually plural

in the dark ages of medicine

b

: a state of stagnation or decline

—usually plural

Examples of dark age in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One period is considered a dark age for Tamriel Rebuilt. —Daniel Larlham, ArsTechnica, 24 Feb. 2026

In Europe births have fallen below deaths — which is a terrifying glimpse into the future of a new dark age of the Western world. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 27 Aug. 2025

The next few months and years will be critical in determining which direction — forward into the future or backward into a new dark age — the country, and arguably the world, will head. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025

The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian drama adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name, centers on Elisabeth Moss’ June, a woman living in a dark age who sees her family and former life stripped away. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 27 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dark age

• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage
• enrage
• leafage
• messuage
• offstage
• onstage
• outrage
• pelage