ERA

UK: /ˈɪərə/ US: /ˈɪrə, ˈɛrə/ ,(ēr′ə, er′ə)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ERA / ˈiːrə/ acronym:noun

1. (in Britain) Education Reform Act: the 1988 act which established the key elements of the National Curriculum
2. (in the US) Equal Rights Amendment: a proposed amendment to the US Constitution enshrining equality between the sexes

ERA abbreviation

earned run average: used as a measure of a pitcher's success

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•ra /ˈɪrə, ˈɛrə/   n. [countable] , pl. e•ras. 

1. a period of time marked by special character, events, etc.;
   the period of time to which anything belongs.
2. a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date:
   The Christian era starts at the birth of Christ.
3. Geology a major division of geologic time.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•ra  (ēr′ə, er′ə), n. 

1. a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc.:
   The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.
2. the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned:
   She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.
3. a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date:
   The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.
4. a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology:
   Caesar died many years before our era.
5. a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period:
   The year 1492 marks an era in world history.
6. Geology a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods. See table under geologic time. 

• Late Latin aera fixed date, era, epoch (from which time is reckoned), probably special use of Latin aera counters (plural of aes piece of metal, money, brass); cognate with Gothic aiz, Old English ār ore, Sanskrit ayas metal
• 1605–15

Synonyms

• 1. See age. 

ERA, 

1. Sport Also, era  [Baseball.] See earned run average. 
2. Government, Emergency Relief Administration.
3. Government Equal Rights Amendment: proposed 27th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

era / ˈɪərə/ noun

1. a period of time considered as being of a distinctive character; epoch
2. an extended period of time the years of which are numbered from a fixed point or event: the Christian era
3. a point in time, esp one beginning a new or distinctive period
4. a major division of geological time, divided into several periods

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin aera counters, plural of aes brass, pieces of brass money