Decades — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈde-ˌkād/ (noun) /ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ/ (adjective) de·cade

Meaning & Definition of Decades

Decades (noun)

  1. a group or set of 10
  2. a period of 10 years
  3. a division of the rosary that consists primarily of 10 Hail Marys

Decades (adjective)

  1. lasting two or more decades, occurring over a period of two or more decades

Word Forms of Decades

Derived words: decadal (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Decades

Middle English, from Middle French décade, from Late Latin decad-, decas, from Greek dekad-, dekas, from deka see deca-

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Decades

Words & Phrases Containing Decades

decades-long

Frequently Asked Questions about Decades

What does "Decades" mean?

"Decades" means a group or set of 10. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a group or set of 10. It has 4 distinct senses.

Is "Decades" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Decades" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Decades" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Decades"?

"Decades" is pronounced /ˈde-ˌkād/ as a noun and /ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as de·cade.

What is the origin of the word "Decades"?

"Decades" comes from Middle English, from Middle French décade, from Late Latin decad-, decas, from Greek dekad-, dekas, from deka see deca-. First known use: 15th century.

What does "Decades" mean as a noun?

As a noun, "Decades" means: a group or set of 10; a period of 10 years; a division of the rosary that consists primarily of 10 Hail Marys.

What does "Decades" mean as an adjective?

As an adjective, "Decades" means: lasting two or more decades, occurring over a period of two or more decades.

Is "Decades" an academic word?

Yes. "Decades" is part of the 570-word Academic Word List (AWL), which contains vocabulary that appears frequently in university texts and in exams such as IELTS and TOEFL.