# era

/ˈɛɹə/ (US) · /ˈiəɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/era
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. historical period

noun · CEFR B2

a long period of history that is different from others because of a specific event or person.

For teachers: a major division of time that is a chronological stage in history, often characterized by a particular person, event, or social condition.

- The invention of the steam engine marked the beginning of a new industrial era.
- Historians often debate the exact moment that the Victorian era transitioned into the modern age of technology and global conflict.

### 2. geological time

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a very long period of time, lasting millions of years, used to describe the history of the Earth.

For teachers: a major division of geological time, smaller than an eon and larger than a period, typically spanning hundreds of millions of years.

- Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era, which lasted for about 180 million years.
- The Paleozoic era is characterized by the rapid diversification of marine life and the eventual colonization of land by plants and animals.

### 3. personal phase

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a time in your life when you are very interested in a specific thing or behave in a certain way.

For teachers: a distinct, often temporary phase in an individual's life defined by a specific aesthetic, interest, or lifestyle choice.

- I went through a big jazz era in college where I only listened to old records.
- Social media trends have popularized the concept of entering a 'villain era' or a 'healing era' to describe shifts in personal priorities.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.