Meaning
Of a geologic epoch within the Quaternary period from about the year 10 000 BC to the present; the age of man.
Etymology
Origin: Ancient Greek
From French Holocène, based on holo- (“whole”) + Ancient Greek καινός (kainós, “fresh, new”). Coined to replace the earlier (1833) label Recent, formally submitted in 1867 and officially endorsed in 1969. The concept is that this epoch is entirely (wholly) new. By surface analysis, holo- + -cene.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2024, 2025, 2026.