decade

[dek-eyd, duh-keyd]

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.

decade

/ dɪˈkeɪd, ˈdɛkeɪd /

noun

1. a period of ten consecutive years

2. a group or series of ten

Other Word Forms

• half-decade noun
• decadal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decade¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of decade¹

C15: from Old French, from Late Latin decad-, decas, from Greek dekas, from deka ten

Example Sentences

Bern estimated it would double the cost of Switzerland's current militia system, which sees army conscripts do at least four months' service before being called up repeatedly over a decade for weeks-long refresher sessions.

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The inferno -- the financial hub's worst in decades -- sent shock waves through the city, which has some of the world's most densely populated and tallest residential blocks.

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"To stay on track, the rate of reductions must double in the 5 years to 2030 and triple in the decade to 2035," it said in a report.

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Affectionately known by Australians as the Bom, the agency's long-awaited website redesign went live that morning, more than a decade after the last update.

Read more on BBC

Campbell’s soup has been a staple of American childhood, sick days and holiday casserole recipes for decades.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal