BCE
1 synonym and 2 antonyms for BCE, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Abbreviation — Before Common Era; used after a year to show that it falls in the era before the traditional date of the start of the Christian calendar, counting backwards.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
BC
Antonyms
How to use BCE
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
3000 BCE
BCE and CE
the second century BCE
Standard in academic history, archaeology and museum labelling. It is written after the year, unlike AD, which comes before it.
Etymology
An initialism of Before Common Era.
Full origin of BCE →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between BCE and BC?
None at all in the years they refer to: 500 BCE and 500 BC are the same date. BCE and CE simply replace the explicitly Christian wording of BC, 'before Christ', and AD, 'in the year of the Lord', with neutral terms suited to writing for all audiences.
Where does BCE go in a date?
After the year, as in 44 BCE, and the same is true of CE in most modern style guides. This differs from AD, which traditionally comes before the year, as in AD 79.
