golden age

American  

[gohl-dn eyj-] / ˈgoʊl dn eɪdʒˈ /

noun

golden ages plural

1. the most flourishing period in the history of a nation, literature, etc.

2. Classical Mythology. the first and best of the four ages of humankind; an era of peace and innocence that finally yielded to the silver age.

3. (usually initial capital letters) a period in Latin literature, 70 b.c. to a.d. 14, in which Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Vergil, Ovid, and others wrote; the first phase of Classical Latin.

4. the period in life after middle age, traditionally characterized by wisdom, contentment, and useful leisure.

5. the age at which a person normally retires.

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golden age British  

noun

1. classical myth the first and best age of mankind, when existence was happy, prosperous, and innocent

2. the most flourishing and outstanding period, esp in the history of an art or nation

   the golden age of poetry

3. the great classical period of Latin literature, occupying approximately the 1st century _bc and represented by such writers as Cicero and Virgil

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golden age Idioms  

1. A period of prosperity or excellent achievement, as in Some consider the baroque period the golden age of choral music. The expression dates from the mid-1500s, when it was first applied to a period of classical Latin poetry.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• golden ages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of golden age

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

golden age

Nostalgia for Broadway’s golden age is proving to be a potent societal anesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Leung's collaborations with fellow Hong Konger Wong Kar-wai are emblematic of the golden age of the city's film industry in the 80s and 90s.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

Other big winners included Ragtime, about three families pursuing the American dream at the dawn of the 20th Century, and Schmigadoon!, a comedic celebration of theatre's golden age, adapted from the Apple TV series.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

With summer road trip season upon us—pump prices be damned!—here is a menu of beloved dishes from this golden age of dashboard dining.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

Of course, Koffi had been born long after that golden age, but she still tried to imagine it as she traversed the city’s ancient streets.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray