era

A long period of time known for particular events, people, or ways of life.

• We live in a digital era.
• The railway marked the beginning of a new era.
• These paintings come from different eras.

How to use it: era of something (The invention began an era of rapid change.)

Similar words: age, period, epoch

Common phrases: a new era, digital era, Victorian era

A major division of Earth's history, represented by rocks formed over many millions of years.

• Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era.
• These rocks formed in an earlier geological era.
• Scientists divide eras into smaller periods.

Common phrases: Mesozoic era, geological era, Paleozoic era