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

More than two decades ago, Dudley proposed that humans' interest in alcohol has deep roots in primate evolution and stems from ancient foraging habits.

From Science Daily

This becomes the longest era and continues for more than three decades.

From Science Daily

At the end of 1998, after decades of inertia, Germany and 43 other states committed to locating and returning artworks stolen by the Nazis.

From Barron's

The UK government on Monday said it will "invest around 25 percent more in innovative, safe, and effective treatments -- the first major increase in over two decades."

From Barron's

Meanwhile, inventories on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have plummeted to their lowest levels in a decade and those on the Shanghai Gold Exchange to a nine-year low, Commerbank analysts said, citing Bloomberg data.

From The Wall Street Journal