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Synonyms

circa

American  
[sur-kuh] / ˈsɜr kə /

preposition

  1. about: used especially in approximate dates: ca, ca., c., c, cir., circ.

    The Venerable Bede was born circa 673.


circa British  
/ ˈsɜːkə /

preposition

  1. Abbreviation: c..   ca..  (used with a date) at the approximate time of

    circa 1182 bc.

"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

Etymology

Origin of circa

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin: “around, about,” akin to circus circus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The short version is that even if you’re feeling less than patriotic under current conditions, the U.S. men’s national team, circa 2026, comes with high drama and an intriguing storyline.

From Salon Jun. 11, 2026

Whatever the reasons, space stocks are melting up in a scenario that might remind investors of EVs circa 2020 and 2021.

From Barron's May 27, 2026

The California Military Academy spent a spectacular few of its early years, circa 1906, on the water at Santa Monica, leasing out the rambling Victorian pile that had once been the Arcadia Hotel.

From Los Angeles Times May 22, 2026

"Anyone with even the most rudimentary knowledge of leasehold knows that outright and immediate abolition of circa five million English and Welsh leases is almost certainly impossible."

From BBC Apr. 29, 2026

A site for the Silicon Valley investor, circa 1996, was not a natural home for a sober-minded value investor.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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