How long is a decade Meaning and Definition
How long is a decade
Pronunciation
null
Part of Speech
Noun phrase
Definition
A unit of time defining 10 consecutive years, used to measure the duration of events, people’s lives, and the impact of changing circumstances.
Examples
- Society has undergone significant changes over the past 20 years, with a decade defined by rapid technological advancements.
- How did your life change during the decade of your 20s?
Synonyms
- Period
- Span
Etymology
Derived from the Latin “decem,” meaning 10, in combination with “annus,” meaning year.
Usage Notes
When expressing time, “decade” can be used to refer to a specific 10-year period, as in “The 1980s were a time of great change,” or to describe a general period spanning multiple decades, such as “The 20th century was marked by significant technological advancements.”
Cultural References
Notable appearances in popular culture include the title of Madonna’s 1990 album “The Immaculate Collection,” released in the decade of the 1980s, and the phrase’s frequent use in film and television to describe historical events or periods.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- A new decade, a new me
- Over the decade
Related Words or Phrases
- Century
- Millennium
- Generational
Collocations
- A decade of growth or decay
- Defining a decade in history
Frequency of Use
While the frequency of use has remained relatively consistent over the past few decades, the phrase has experienced a slight increase in usage in the past 10 years, coinciding with the rise of social media and its impact on our perception of time.
Common Misspellings
- Decate
- Decidate