Decennium

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪˈsÉ›nɪəm/

Origin

From Latin decem ("ten") + annum ("year").

Full definition of decennium

Noun

1. A period of ten years.
• 1998, G.B. still has to cope with the heritage of approx. 20 years of consecutive Conservative reigns, just as you guys are getting your act together after almost a decennium of Enlightened Ronnie.
• 1996, Christian leaders refused even to *look* through Galileo's telescope (as a matter of fact, the Vatican cleared Galileo's name only as late as in the previous decennium).

Synonyms

• decade

Related terms

• millennium