What does era mean?
An era is a long and distinct stretch of time, typically one defined by a notable event, prevailing style, dominant figure, or set of conditions that sets it apart from what came before and after. Historians speak of the Victorian era or the postwar era, while in everyday speech people use the word more loosely — the end of an era, a new era of technology, or the era of dial-up internet. A related, older sense refers to a fixed starting point from which years are counted, as in the Christian era. Because it implies significance and clear boundaries, era carries connotations of change and importance: announcing that something marks a new era suggests genuine transformation rather than routine passage of time. It pairs readily with verbs like usher in, herald, mark, and signal.
A long and distinct period of history characterized by particular events, developments, or figures.
"The digital era has transformed how people access information."
Commonly paired with adjectives denoting historical periods or technological shifts.
A fixed point in time from which a system of dating years begins.
"Dates are given according to the Christian era in much of the Western world."
This is the older, more technical sense; less common in everyday speech.
Standard English plural, formed by adding -s.
"The museum's exhibits trace eras spanning several thousand years of human history."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of era
Era comes directly from Late Latin aera, meaning "counters" or items used for calculation, which itself derives from Latin aes, "bronze" or "money." In Spanish, la era came to denote a fixed date from which years were counted, and English adopted the word in the early 17th century with this chronological sense. Over time its meaning broadened from a numerical starting point to any long, distinctive period of history.
How era is actually used
Often used figuratively and informally ("an era of good feeling") as well as historically. Frequently modified by adjectives such as "new," "golden," "modern," "Victorian," or "digital." The plural is "eras."
Easily confused with era
"Era" means a period of history, while "error" is a mistake; they sound similar in many accents but have entirely unrelated meanings.