Age vs. Era: Difference and Comparison
By Muazma Batool & Muneeza Rehman — Published on May 14, 2024
Age refers to distinct periods within a longer time frame, often marked by specific characteristics or events, while an era is a broader historical timeframe defined by significant transformations or milestones.
Difference Between Age and Era
An age is commonly used to describe a specific period within human history, science, or personal development, characterized by notable features or events. For example, the Bronze Age is defined by the widespread use of bronze. On the other hand, an era often refers to a larger, more significant expanse of time marked by profound historical, political, or geological changes, such as the Mesozoic era in geology.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
Age can also denote stages in the life cycle of humans or other living organisms, highlighting biological or sociological changes. For instance, the teenage years are an age of rapid physical and psychological development. Whereas an era might not focus on biological aspects but rather on periods marked by distinctive technological advancements or ideological shifts.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
In literature and discussions, "age" is often used more flexibly to signify any period recognized for a particular theme or activity, such as the Age of Enlightenment emphasizing reason and science. On the other hand, "era" is usually reserved for significant historical periods whose influence is wide-ranging and universally acknowledged, such as the Victorian era.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
When discussing durations, "age" can also imply the length of time something has existed, like the age of a building or the age of the universe. In contrast, an era usually does not imply a specific duration but rather a historical period distinguished by particular characteristics or events.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
While "age" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, "era" tends to appear in more formal or academic discourse, suggesting a scholarly tone when referring to historical periods or epochs, emphasizing its grandeur or importance.
Levi
May 14, 2024
Age vs. Era Comparison Chart
Definition
A period characterized by specific events or features.
A significant, longer period marked by major changes.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
Age vs. Era Definitions
◉Age
Historical epoch.
The Jazz Age was known for its music and cultural upheaval.
Muazma Batool
Apr 29, 2024
◉Era
Geological timeframe.
The Cenozoic era follows the extinction of the dinosaurs.
William
Apr 29, 2024
◉Age
The length of time that a person or thing has existed
A man 23 years of age.
Wanted to know the age of the house.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The time of life when a person becomes qualified to assume certain civil and personal rights and responsibilities, usually at 18 or 21 years; legal age
Under age.
Of age.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
Phase of civilization.
We live in the digital era, dominated by information technology.
Kaitlyn
Apr 29, 2024
◉Era
A period of time as reckoned from a specific date serving as the basis of its chronological system.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A period of time characterized by particular circumstances, events, or personages
The Colonial era of US history.
The Reagan era.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A period of time marked by a distinctive characteristic, achievement, or figure
The Stone Age.
The computer age.
The Elizabethan Age.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A period in the history of the earth, usually shorter than an epoch
The Ice Age.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
(geology) A geochronologic unit of tens to hundreds of millions of years; a subdivision of an eon, and subdivided into periods.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.
The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era.
Henry
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian).
The first century of our era.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To cause to become old or to show the signs of becoming old
The stress of the office visibly aged the president.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch.
Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To change (the characteristics of a device) through use, especially to stabilize (an electronic device).
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Era
A major division of geological time; an era is usually divided into two or more periods
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To develop a certain quality of ripeness; become mature
Cheese aging at room temperature.
Levi
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(countable) The whole duration of a being, whether human, animal, plant, or other kind, being alive.
Jonathan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(countable) The number of full years, months, days, hours, etc., that someone, or something, has been alive.
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(countable) The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested.
The age of consent; the age of discretion
Elijah
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(countable) A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others.
The golden age; the age of Pericles
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(countable) A great period in the history of the Earth.
The Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age; the Tithonian Age was the last in the Late Jurassic epoch
Leo
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(astrology) One of the twelve divisions of a Great Year, equal to roughly 2000 years and goverened by one of the zodiacal signs; a Platonic month.
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The shortest geochronologic unit, being a period of thousands to millions of years; a subdivision of an epoch (or sometimes a subepoch).
Kaitlyn
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The right of the player to the left of the dealer to pass the first round in betting, and then to come in last or stay out; also, the player holding this position; the eldest hand.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(uncountable) That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; specifically the size of that part.
What is the present age of a man, or of the earth?
Henry
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(uncountable) Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities.
To come of age; she is now of age
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(uncountable) An advanced period of life; the latter part of life; the state of being old, old age, senility; seniority.
Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age, sometimes age just shows up all by itself.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(intransitive) To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age.
He grew fat as he aged.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To be viewed or turn out in some way after a certain time has passed.
His prediction that we didn't stand a chance hasn't aged well, now that we've won the cup.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(transitive) To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to.
Grief ages us.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To postpone an action that would extinguish something, as a debt.
Money's a little tight right now, let's age our bills for a week or so.
Olivia
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To categorize by age.
One his first assignments was to age the accounts receivable.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
(transitive) To indicate that a person has been alive for a certain period of time, especially a long one.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime.
Mine age is as nothing before thee.
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?
Nolan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old.
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
Henry
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of age.
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of discretion.
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles.
Truth, in some age or other, will find her witness.
Nolan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A century; the period of one hundred years.
Fleury . . . apologizes for these five ages.
William
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation.
The way which the age follows.
Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage,Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age.
Jonathan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
The right belonging to the player to the left of the dealer to pass the first round in betting, and then to come in last or stay out; also, the player holding this position; the eldest hand.
Jonathan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age; as, he grew fat as he aged.
They live one hundred and thirty years, and never age for all that.
I am aging; that is, I have a whitish, or rather a light-colored, hair here and there.
William
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to; as, grief ages us.
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
An era of history having some distinctive feature;
We live in a litigious age
Jonathan
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A time in life (usually defined in years) at which some particular qualification or power arises;
She was now of school age
Tall for his eld
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A late time of life;
Old age is not for sissies
He's showing his years
Age hasn't slowed him down at all
A beard white with eld
On the brink of geezerhood
Henry
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
A prolonged period of time;
We've known each other for ages
I haven't been there for years and years
Muazma Batool
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
Lucas
Apr 27, 2024
◉Age
Developmental stage.
During the middle age of life, many reflect on past achievements.
Levi
Apr 29, 2024
Age vs. Era Frequently Asked Questions
Can "age" and "era" be used interchangeably?
While sometimes used interchangeably in casual speech, they have different connotations; "era" implies a broader and more impactful period.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
What are some examples of an age?
Examples include the Stone Age, Space Age, and Information Age, each defined by key developments or uses.
William
May 14, 2024
How is "age" used in science?
In science, "age" can refer to the period during which specific geological formations or species existed.
Jonathan
May 14, 2024
How does an era differ from an age in duration?
An era generally spans a longer and broader timeframe, often encompassing several ages.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
Which is longer, an age or an era?
An era is typically longer than an age as it encompasses major historical or geological changes.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
Is the Renaissance considered an age or an era?
The Renaissance is often considered an age due to its cultural, artistic, and intellectual blossoming.
Levi
May 14, 2024
How is "era" significant in history?
An era marks significant historical changes that define and shape future periods.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
Why might someone prefer using "era" in academic contexts?
"Era" is preferred for its formality and implications of significant historical breadth and impact.
Lucas
May 14, 2024
Can the term "age" apply to technology?
Yes, such as in the context of the Digital Age, which highlights the role of digital technology in society.
Jonathan
May 14, 2024
How do historians decide when an era starts or ends?
Historians determine this based on significant events or changes that mark clear transitions in society or nature.
Kaitlyn
May 14, 2024
What defines an age?
An age is defined by distinctive characteristics or significant events within a shorter timeframe.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
What is a common use of "age" in everyday language?
"Age" is commonly used to refer to someone’s years of life or periods in history with distinct characteristics.
Kaitlyn
May 14, 2024
What are examples of an era?
Notable eras include the Paleozoic Era, the Elizabethan Era, and the Modern Era.
Jonathan
May 14, 2024
What makes an era unique in geological terms?
In geology, an era is defined by major earth changes and lasts tens to hundreds of millions of years.
Muazma Batool
May 14, 2024
What impact does the use of "era" have on understanding history?
Using "era" helps structure historical knowledge by grouping significant events that share thematic or chronological connections.
William
May 14, 2024
Content Creators
Written by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
Co-written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
