Era: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：a significant epoch (era)

era 🔊

/ˈɪrə/

A long period of time known for something special, like a big change, a famous person, or a key event.

Illustrated timeline showing the progression from prehistoric to industrial to digital era

a significant epoch 🔊

➕

/ə sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt ˈiːpɒk/

A long and distinct period in history characterized by major events, changes, or notable figures.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'aera', meaning 'epoch' or 'period'.

💡 Mnemonic

Era sounds like 'error' – but an era is a long time, not a mistake!

📖 Example

The invention of the smartphone truly kicked off a new era in how we connect with each other. 🔊 The smartphone's invention marked the beginning of a new era in social connectivity.

🔗 Collocations

new era – a recently started period of major change

bygone era – a period in the past that has ended

era of prosperity – a time characterized by economic growth and well-being

🔄 Synonyms

epoch (n.) – a particular period of time in history marked by distinctive features

age (n.) – a distinct period of history with specific characteristics

period (n.) – a length of time with a defined beginning and end

🚫 Antonyms

moment (n.) – a very short period of time

instant (n.) – an infinitesimally brief point in time

📖 Cultural Story

Era derives from Latin 'aera', originally meaning 'counters' or 'money', used in medieval Latin to denote a fixed point in time, evolving into English for a historical period.