epoch

noun

ep·​och ˈe-pək How to pronounce epoch (audio)
ˈe-ˌpäk,
US also and British usually
ˈē-ˌpäk How to pronounce epoch (audio)
1
a
: an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development
b
: a memorable event or date
2
a
: an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events
b
: a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age
3
: an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference (as in astronomy)

Did you know?

Epoch comes to us, via Medieval Latin, from Greek epochē, meaning "cessation" or "fixed point." "Epochē," in turn, comes from the Greek verb epechein, meaning "to pause" or "to hold back." When "epoch" was first borrowed into English, it referred to the fixed point used to mark the beginning of a system of chronology. That sense is now obsolete, but today "epoch" is used in some fields (such as astronomy) with the meaning "an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference." The "an event or a time that begins a new period or development" sense first appeared in print in the early 17th century, and "epoch" has been applied to defining moments or periods of time ever since.

Choose the Right Synonym for epoch

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 epoch in a Sentence

The Civil War era was an epoch in 19th-century U.S. history. The development of the steam engine marked an important epoch in the history of industry.
Recent Examples on the Web Regardless of whether the term is officially classified as a geological epoch, Anthropocene is already widely in use, Cohen noted. Katie Hunt, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Even if the subcommission’s vote is upheld and the Anthropocene proposal is rebuffed, the new epoch could still be added to the timeline at some later point. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 By facilitating unfettered access to financial services and reducing the dependency on intermediaries, Ethereum is driving the momentum toward a new epoch of financial freedom. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2024 Without ever becoming maudlin or didactic, Glück traces both an epoch and an act of commemorating the dead. Daniel Felsenthal, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2024 The Anthropocene, the term for the current geological epoch, is defined by the human impact on the planet’s ecosystems. Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023 In the Windows 8 epoch, Microsoft required OEMs to build a Windows button into the display bezel of devices with touchscreens, but that requirement eventually disappeared. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 Here's what makes the Drake Passage so deadly Can coral reefs survive the Anthropocene epoch?, Video Story One Stanley bottle helps the environment. Travel, 25 Jan. 2024 They were commonly thought to have faced extinction upwards of 10,000 years ago, but some of the last remaining populations survived well into the Holocene — the current geological epoch that spans the last 11,700 years. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'epoch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin epocha, from Greek epochē cessation, fixed point, from epechein to pause, hold back, from epi- + echein to hold — more at scheme entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of epoch was in 1614

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Dictionary Entries Near epoch

Cite this Entry

“Epoch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epoch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

epoch

noun
ep·​och ˈep-ək How to pronounce epoch (audio) -ˌäk How to pronounce epoch (audio)
 also  ˈē-ˌpäk
1
: an event or a time that begins a new period of development
2
: a memorable event, date, or period
3
: a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age
epochal
-əl
adjective
epochally
-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on epoch

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