# eighties

/ˈeɪtiz/ (US) · /ˈeɪtɪz/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eighties
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the years from 1980 to 1989. You also use this word to talk about the age of someone who is between 80 and 89 years old.

For teachers: the decade spanning from 1980 to 1989 inclusive; also refers to the period of life between the ages of 80 and 89.

## Examples

- My parents grew up in the eighties.
- Pop music from the eighties is still very popular at themed parties today.
- The economic policies of the eighties led to significant structural changes in the national industry, the effects of which are still debated by historians today.

## Pitfalls

- Not "in the 80's" but "in the '80s" — When using the numerical abbreviation, the apostrophe replaces the missing '19', not the plural 's'.

## Usage notes

- Always used in the plural form; when referring to the decade, it is often preceded by 'the'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.