Bce

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A labeling system indicating a date happened before the start of the commonly used calendar era, signifying years counted backwards from a reference point | a way to denote historical dates prior to the traditional year one | shorthand for specifying ancient times predating a common era
  2. An abbreviation commonly used to represent years that occurred before the conventional epoch begins | a designation for numbering years prior to the standard AD/CE system | a calendrical marker for pre-era years based on a shared reference point
  3. Used in dating methods to show an event took place before the modern calendrical epoch | a symbol distinguishing dates earlier than the common era | a notation for indicating time periods before the year one of the current era

Etymology: The abbreviation "BCE" stands for "Before Common Era," a secular term used to denote years before the start of the Gregorian calendar's year 1 CE (Common Era). It emerged as a modern alternative to "BC" ("Before Christ") in order to provide a non-religious way of referencing historical dates and to accommodate multicultural and interfaith contexts. Its rise in usage dates to the 20th century, particularly gaining traction in academic, scientific, and interfaith circles seeking neutral terminology. The Common Era system itself originates from the Latin phrase "Anno Domini" (in the year of our Lord), introduced by the monk Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century to number years from the supposed birth of Jesus Christ. BCE and CE mirror BC and AD but remove Christian reference points. The term "Before Common Era" is a straightforward construction: "Before" conveys the temporal relation, while "Common Era" replaces "Christian Era" or "Anno Domini" to emphasize inclusivity. Its adoption reflects shifts in scholarly practice and cultural sensitivity rather than a long historical lineage. The abbreviation BCE first appeared in English-language texts in the mid-20th century and has since become common in historical and archaeological writing. While BCE and CE provide a shared chronological framework, the underlying calendar system remains the same as that which originated in Christian Europe. The change lies in terminology, reflecting evolving attitudes toward cultural and religious neutrality in global discourse.

Synonyms: before common era, BC

Antonyms: CE, common era