Decades Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/dɪˈseɪz/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A period of 10 years, often used to describe a unit of time in a broader context, such as a decade of social change or cultural movement.

Examples

• The 1980s were a decade of great social change.
• The music industry went through a decade of evolution in the 2000s.

Synonyms

• Period
• Span

Antonyms

• Epoch
• Era

Additional Information

Decades are often used as a way to categorize and understand historical events, cultural movements, or technological advancements. They provide a framework for analyzing and comparing different periods of time. Decades can also be used to describe a significant span of time in an individual’s life, such as decades of work experience or decades of personal growth.

Decades can also refer to a group of events or experiences that occur within a specific time frame. For example, a decade of travel or a decade of education.

Etymology

The word “decades” comes from the Latin word “decem,” meaning ten.

Usage Notes

Decades is often used as a singular noun, but it can also be used as a plural noun to refer to multiple decades.

In sentences, decades is often used to describe a specific time frame, such as “The 1990s were a decade of great change.” Alternatively, it can be used to describe a general period of time, such as “We’ve had a decade of rapid technological advancements.”

Cultural References

In popular culture, decades is often referenced in music, film, and literature to describe a specific era or time frame. For example, “The 1960s were a decade of social change” or “The 1980s were a decade of excess.”

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• A decade of change
• A decade of growth
• A decade of decline

Related Words or Phrases

• Centuries
• Years
• Periods

Collocations

• A decade of success
• A decade of failure
• A decade of progress

Frequency of Use

Decades is a commonly used term in everyday language, particularly in discussions of history, culture, and technology.

Common Misspellings

• Decads
• Decedes
• Deacades