C.E.

3.9

Used to mark years in the Common Era, like A.D

adverb

: E.C.

Many historians now use C.E. instead of A.D. to indicate dates in the modern era.

Examples

Many historians prefer using C.E. instead of A.D.
The temple was constructed around the 2nd century C.E..
The first written references to this tradition date from 300 C.E..
The event occurred in 500 C.E..
Many historians now use C.E. instead of A.D. to indicate dates in the modern era.
The first written references to this tradition date from 300 C.E..
The temple was constructed around the 2nd century C.E..

Synonyms

Christian era

vsC.E.

1 3.0

A time starting at Jesus's birth that people use for AD or CE dates

is the secular abbreviation preferred over the explicitly religious term

Common Era

vsC.E.

1 4.6

The years of history starting at year one of the calendar now used in many countries

is the abbreviated form commonly used for the same dating system

vsC.E.

4.2

Years counted from year 1 in the calendar used today

is the abbreviation variant preferred in secular contexts

A.D.

vsC.E.

2.8

Put before a year to show the date is after Jesus's birth

is the secular-preferred abbreviation serving the same dating function

Anno Domini

vsC.E.

8.2

Marks a year as after the birth of Jesus, often written AD

is the secular abbreviation used instead to avoid religious reference

Surface Forms

C.E. positive

Etymology

C.E. stands for Common Era, a neutral way to name years used the same as 'A.D.'. Since 'A.D.' comes from 'Anno Domini' meaning 'in the year of the Lord', using C.E. gives the same dates but with a non-religious label.