How does the noun epoch differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of epoch are age, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," 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
When is it sensible to use age instead of epoch?
The meanings of age and epoch largely overlap; however, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.
the age of Samuel Johnson
When might era be a better fit than epoch?
Although the words era and epoch have much in common, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.
the era of global communications
In what contexts can period take the place of epoch?
While in some cases nearly identical to epoch, period may designate an extent of time of any length.
periods of economic prosperity
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epochBut dire wolves were real creatures that once roamed across North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch, standing taller than modern gray wolves with more robust builds and greater jaw strength, perfectly evolved to hunt the megafauna of the Ice Age.—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 May 2025 This was a disastrous night for the Wizards, in an epoch of seemingly never-ending disasters — some man-made (see Webber to Kings, above), others a matter of bad luck.—David Aldridge, New York Times, 13 May 2025 Each new suite chronicles a distinct design epoch: the early 20th-century Edwardian era; the glamorous art deco period of the 1920s and ‘30s; the innovative mid-century golden age of the 1950s and '60s; and the glittering extravagance that defined the 1980s Dynasty-era aesthetics.—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025 Its name refers to where the specimens were discovered: the Messel Pit in Germany, a rich fossil site dating to the Eocene epoch (57 million to 36 million years ago).—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for epoch
Best company-wide commitment to diversity: Delta Air Lines In the second Trump era, during which some companies have quietly retreated from diversity initiatives in the face of political pressure, Delta has stood firm in its commitments.
—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
18 June 2025
The archive name comes from a scientific phenomenon from the Cold War era.
The tragic loss of an Air India Boeing 787 days before the Show led to the decision for senior Boeing executives to not attend and for the company to keep a low profile.
—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
On the afternoon of March 25, 2024 — the same day Combs' homes were raided in Miami and Los Angeles — Paul was arrested by local police at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
While many sellers have decided to stop waiting for mortgage rates to come down to sell their properties, many buyers are being kept on the sidelines by high prices and monthly payments, and are leaving those listings sitting idle on the market for increasingly long periods of time.
—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Animated by dark humor and cool fury, this début novel takes place largely in Ukraine during the period following Russia’s invasion.
Add in other risk factors: age, prior diagnoses, exposures.
—
Siddhartha Mukherjee,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
The two agencies’ message is simple: Everyone should have a chance to enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors, no matter their age, experience or ability.
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