decade

American  

[dek-eyd, duh-keyd] / ˈdɛk eɪd, dəˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a period of ten years.

   the three decades from 1776 to 1806.

2. a period of ten years beginning with a year whose last digit is zero.

   the decade of the 1980s.

3. a group, set, or series of ten.

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decade British  

/ dɪˈkeɪd, ˈdɛkeɪd /

noun

1. a period of ten consecutive years

2. a group or series of ten

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Other Word Forms

• decadal adjective
• half-decade noun

Etymology

Origin of decade

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin decad-, stem of decas, from Greek dekás “group of ten”; equivalent to deca- + -ade ²

Example Sentences

It was the first fatal crash for Air Canada in more than four decades.

From BBC

Over the next decades, questions on language, literacy and occupation were refined, adding secondary work and dependency details.

From BBC

At the start of the decade, EVs occupied a small but fast-growing corner of the U.S. auto market.

From The Wall Street Journal

The research is clear that while technological changes can reshape industries over decades, they have never led to a permanent, economy-wide loss in employment.

From Barron's

Rather than being adaptations, they’re more like fan-service brand extensions that simply recreate the characters and action that fans have loved for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal