Age of Reason

American  

noun

1. any period in history, especially the 18th century in France, England, etc., characterized by a critical approach to religious, social, and philosophical matters that seeks to repudiate beliefs or systems not based on or justifiable by reason.

2. age of reason, the age at which a person is considered capable of distinguishing between right and wrong.

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Age of Reason British  

noun

1. the 18th century in W Europe See also Enlightenment

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Example Sentences

Paine, the author of the most widely read political essays of the 18th century, "Rights of Man," "The Age of Reason" and "Common Sense," blasted the monarchy as a con.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2022

On each side of the capstone, engraved in four ancient languages - Babylonian cuneiform, Classical Greek, Sanskrit and Egyptian hieroglyphic - were the words: "Let these be guidestones to an Age of Reason."

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2022

But these freedoms were established in the Age of Reason.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2022

This was the true beginning of the science revolution and the Age of Reason.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2021

While "The Age of Reason" is thus, in one aspect, the product of its time, the renewal of an old siege—begun far back indeed as Celsus,—its intellectual originality is none the less remarkable.

From The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. II. (of II) With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England by Conway, Moncure Daniel