Paleogene

[ pey-lee-uh-jeen; especially British pal-ee- ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to the earlier part of the Cenozoic Era, in the system adopted by some geologists, occurring from 65 to 25 million years ago and including the Oligocene, Eocene, and Paleocene epochs: corresponds to the earlier part of the Tertiary Period in the system generally used in the U.S. Compare Neogene.

noun

1. the Paleogene Period or System.

Paleogene

/ pā′lē-ə-jēn′ /

1. The oldest of two subdivisions of the Tertiary Period, including the Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene Epochs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Paleogene¹

1880–85; < German Paläogen, equivalent to paläo- paleo- + -gen (< Greek genésthai to be born); -gen