WORD OF THE DAY: Epochal
[EP-ə-kəl]
Part of speech: Adjective
Origin: Latin, 17th century
Definition: Forming or characterizing an epoch; epoch-making
Examples of Epochal in a sentence
“Lebron James has been an epochal figure in the popularity of basketball, comparable to Michael Jordan in his time.”
“The fall of the Berlin Wall was the last epochal moment of the Cold War in the 20th century.”
About Epochal
From the Latin “epocha,” referring to the beginning of a new time period, the 17th-century word “epoch” defines a period of time or history marked by significant events. The adjective “epochal” describes the kinds of events that define a period of history as an epoch.
Did you Know?
We rarely think of events and moments in the present as being “epochal.” In general, the era-defining character of epochal events only becomes clear with the passage of time. However, some events are so impressive and unprecedented they are recognized immediately as epochal, such as the moon landing, or Serena Williams’s eight-time ranking as the best singles tennis player in the world.
