Bronze Age

American  

noun

1. a period in the history of humankind, following the Stone Age and preceding the Iron Age, during which bronze weapons and implements were used.

2. (lowercase) the third of the four ages of the human race, marked by war and violence; regarded as inferior to the silver age but superior to the following iron age.

---

bronze age ¹ British  

noun

1. classical myth a period of human existence marked by war and violence, following the golden and silver ages and preceding the iron age

---

Bronze Age ² British  

noun

1. archaeol

   1. a technological stage between the Stone and Iron Ages, beginning in the Middle East about 4500 _bc and lasting in Britain from about 2000 to 500 _bc , during which weapons and tools were made of bronze and there was intensive trading

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Bronze-Age tool

---

Bronze Age Scientific  

1. A period of human culture between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, characterized by the use of weapons and implements made of cast bronze. The beginning of the Bronze Age is generally dated before 3000 bce in parts of Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East, and China.

2. See Note at Three Age system

---

Bronze Age Cultural  

1. A period of history from roughly 4000 b.c. to the onset of the Iron Age. During the Bronze Age, people learned to make bronze tools. In the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia, the wheel and the ox-drawn plow were in use.

---

Etymology

Origin of Bronze Age

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does bronze-age compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Bronze Age vs. Iron Age

Example Sentences

Previously, the first known dice dated back to the Bronze Age about 5,500 years ago, in such places as Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley of Asia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

He observes that “geology is the beginning of technology,” which explains our use of phrases such as the Stone Age and the Bronze Age and, in the future, he believes, our current Sand Age.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

At that time, communities were building enclosed settlements and returning to Bronze Age settlement mounds and parts of large fortified sites.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

DNA analysis of the genomes of a Bronze Age farmer on Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim showed that it was already established by that period.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

“The Bronze Age? Goodness, I don’t know; about five thousand years ago,” she said.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman