decade
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for decade, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A period of ten years.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use decade
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French decade, from Greek dekas, "a set of ten," from deka, "ten."
Full origin of decade →Frequently asked questions
What does “decade” mean?
The word “decade” means a period of ten years. In plain terms, ten years, or more loosely, any group of ten things.
How do you pronounce “decade”?
“Decade” is pronounced DEH-kayd (/ˈdɛkeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “decade” in a sentence?
Here is “decade” used in a sentence: “The band has been touring for over a decade.”
What part of speech is “decade”?
“Decade” is a noun.
Where does the word “decade” come from?
The word “decade” comes from Old French. From Old French decade, from Greek dekas, "a set of ten," from deka, "ten.".
Is “decade” a common word?
“Decade” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “decade” have?
“Decade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a period of ten years.
How long is a decade?
A decade is exactly ten years. Three decades make thirty years, and ten decades make a century. People often use the word to describe cultural eras, such as "the 1990s" or "the last decade," grouping events, fashions, and trends into memorable ten-year spans that are easy to talk about.
What is the difference between a decade and a century?
A decade is ten years; a century is one hundred years, or ten decades. Both mark spans of time, but a century is far longer. We might say a style defined a decade, while a great change shaped an entire century. The scale is the key difference between them.
When does a decade start?
This is debated. Popular usage treats decades as beginning at year zero — the 2020s run from 2020 to 2029. Strictly, since there was no year zero in the calendar, some argue a decade runs from 2021 to 2030. Most people follow the simpler, common convention.
Where does the word decade come from?
Decade comes from the Greek "deka," meaning ten, reaching English through Latin. That root is why it always refers to a group of ten — in this case ten years. The same "deka" root appears in other counting words, such as decagon, a shape with ten sides.