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

The five-time champion from Norway had dominated the classical game for nearly a decade, before electing not to defend his title.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The ratio’s average level over the past decade is 23.5%, slightly lower than the March figure.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

David Tran and his partner Ryan Hiser moved to Kansas City more than a decade ago because it was affordable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

They were beaten in the semi-finals by Manchester United in 1977 and Coventry a decade later, while losing in the quarter-finals in 1996, 1998 and 2003.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

In barely a decade, the War on Drugs went from being a political slogan to an actual war.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander