Caroline
Caroline (adjective) means relating to the reigns of a king named Charles, especially Charles I or II of England. Example: “The Caroline era produced a distinctive style of poetry and architecture.”
How to Use Caroline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical adjective describing things from the era of a King Charles, or an old coin from that period — mostly seen in historical writing rather than everyday speech.
Rare outside historical or specialist writing; most people only know "Caroline" as a first name.
Word Forms
Carolines plural, Carolines plural, carolines plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ era produced a distinctive style of poetry and architecture.
Etymology
From Latin Carolus ("Charles") plus the adjective ending -ine — the historical/coin sense, distinct from the common given name Caroline, which shares the same Latin root.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for Caroline
See all rhymes for Caroline →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Caroline” mean?
The word “Caroline” means relating to the reigns of a king named Charles, especially Charles I or II of England. In plain terms, a historical adjective describing things from the era of a King Charles, or an old coin from that period — mostly seen in historical writing rather than everyday speech.
How do you pronounce “Caroline”?
“Caroline” is pronounced KAR-uh-lyn (/ˈkɛɹ.əˌlaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Caroline” in a sentence?
Here is “Caroline” used in a sentence: “The Caroline era produced a distinctive style of poetry and architecture.”
What part of speech is “Caroline”?
Depending on how it is used, “Caroline” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Caroline” come from?
The word “Caroline” comes from Latin. From Latin Carolus ("Charles") plus the adjective ending -ine — the historical/coin sense, distinct from the common given name Caroline, which shares the same Latin root.
Is “Caroline” a common word?
“Caroline” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Caroline” have?
“Caroline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the reigns of a king named Charles, especially Charles I or II of England.
What is the difference between Caroline and Carolean?
Both adjectives describe things connected with a king named Charles, but usage often splits them: Caroline is most associated with the reign of Charles I of England, while Carolean is often reserved for Charles II. In practice the terms overlap, and both trace back to Carolus, the Latin form of Charles.
Why does Caroline refer to kings named Charles?
Because it comes from Carolus, the Latin form of the name Charles. English historical labels were often coined from Latin royal names — the same pattern gives Jacobean, from Jacobus, the Latin for James — so 'Caroline drama' means drama from the reign of a King Charles.
What is the Caroline era in English history?
The Caroline era usually means the reign of Charles I of England, and the adjective covers the art, architecture, literature, and church life of that time — the 'Caroline divines', for example, were theologians of the period. Some writers extend Caroline to Charles II's reign as well, though Carolean is often preferred for that later period.
What was a Caroline coin?
A caroline was an old Italian silver coin, named — like the adjective — after a ruling monarch called Charles. Naming coins after the sovereign who issued them was common in Europe, and the caroline is one of several coin names that trace back to the Latin Carolus.