Cenozoic

[ see-nuh-zoh-ik, sen-uh- ]

/ ˌsi nəˈzoʊ ɪk, ˌsɛn ə- /

Geology

Save This Word!

adjective

noting or pertaining to the present era, beginning 65 million years ago and characterized by the ascendancy of mammals.

noun

the Cenozoic Era or group of systems.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also Cainozoic.

Origin of Cenozoic

First recorded in 1850–55; ceno-¹ + zo- + -ic

Words nearby Cenozoic

cenobite, cenogenesis, cenospecies, cenotaph, cenote, Cenozoic, cense, censer, censor, censorious, censorship

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Cenozoic in a sentence

What physical characteristics of the earth helped in the development of new animal forms in the Cenozoic era?
The Meaning of Evolution|Samuel Christian Schmucker
The Cenozoic era comprises two divisions,—the Tertiary period and the Quaternary period.
The Elements of Geology|William Harmon Norton
There is a laboratory of invertebrate paleontology of Cenozoic and Mesozoic age, with a corps of paleontologists.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 484, April 11, 1885|Various
Paleozoic means "ancient life;" Mesozoic, "middle life;" Cenozoic, "recent life."
Famous Men of Science|Sarah K. Bolton

The next geological era is the Cenozoic, or period of modern life.
The Meaning of Evolution|Samuel Christian Schmucker

British Dictionary definitions for Cenozoic

Cenozoic

Caenozoic Cainozoic

/ (ˌsiːnəʊˈzəʊɪk) /

adjective

of, denoting, or relating to the most recent geological era, which began 65 000 000 years ago: characterized by the development and increase of the mammals

noun

the Cenozoic the Cenozoic era

Word Origin for Cenozoic

C19: from Greek kainos new, recent + zōikos, from zōion animal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for Cenozoic

Cenozoic

[ sĕn′ə-zō′ĭk ]

The most recent era of geologic time, from about 65 million years ago to the present. The Cenozoic Era is characterized by the formation of modern continents and the diversification of mammals and plants. Grasses also evolved during the Cenozoic. The climate was warm and tropical toward the beginning of the era and cooled significantly in the second half, leading to several ice ages. Humans first appeared near the end of this era. See Chart at geologic time.