decade

[ dek-eyd; British also 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

Derived Forms

• deˈcadal, adjective

Other Words From

• half-decade noun

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

The violent repression of land defenders has become a prominent issue in the last decade.

From Salon

“The courts would be backed up by decades” if officials tried to prosecute that offense, a D.C. federal prosecutor told me.

From Salon

Looking back after a decade of misery inflicted by Russia, which the international community has seemed unable or unwilling to prevent, he draws an inevitable conclusion.

From BBC

The musical Wicked, based on a book inventing the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, premiered on Broadway in 2003 and has been running on the West End for two decades.

From BBC

But over their decades of service, they never really considered making any changes to the display.

From Los Angeles Times