era
n. countablen. a long period of time in history that is different from others because of a specific quality or event. You use it to talk about a major chapter in a person's life or a country's past.
n. a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic. Often used to delineate significant geological, political, or cultural stages.
The invention of the internet started a new era for communication.
The retirement of the legendary coach marked the end of a winning era for the local football team.
Historians often debate whether the fall of the empire truly signaled the end of the classical era or if cultural continuity persisted well into the subsequent century.
Commonly paired with 'of' to specify the period, such as 'an era of peace' or 'the era of steam'.