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definitions

year zero

noun

the beginning (1975) of the period during which Cambodia was under the control of the Khmer Rouge
the beginning of revolutionary change
the beginning of any new system or regime

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Nearby words

  1. yeanling,
  2. year,
  3. year in, year out,
  4. year of confusion,
  5. year of grace,
  6. year's mind,
  7. year-around,
  8. year-end,
  9. year-long,
  10. year-round

Word Origin for year zero

C20: by analogy with Year One of the French Revolutionary calendar
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012