Meanings
adjectiveHolocene (not comparable)
- not comparablegeographyOf a geologic epoch within the Quaternary period from about the year 10 000 BC to the present; the age of man.
Meronym: Anthropocene
proper nounthe Holocene
- geographyThe Holocene epoch.
Origin
- Ancient Greekκαινός“fresh, new”
- FrenchHolocène
- EnglishHolocene
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.
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan holocè, holocènic
- holocèrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- holocènicrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- HolocèThe Holocene epoch
Chinese Mandarin 全新世, 全新世
- 全新世 (Quánxīnshì)relating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- 全新世 (quánxīnshì)The Holocene epoch
Czech holocén
- holocénThe Holocene epoch
Danish Holocæn
- HolocænThe Holocene epoch
Dutch holoceen, holoceen
- holoceenrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- holoceenThe Holocene epoch
Esperanto Holoceno
- HolocenoThe Holocene epoch
Estonian holotseen
- holotseenThe Holocene epoch
Finnish holoseenikautinen, holoseeni
- holoseenikautinenrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- holoseeniThe Holocene epoch
- holoseenikausiThe Holocene epoch
French holocène, Holocène
- holocènerelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- HolocèneThe Holocene epoch
German holozänisch, Holozän
- holozänischrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- HolozänThe Holocene epoch
Greek ολόκαινος, Ολόκαινο
- ολόκαινος (olókainos)relating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- Ολόκαινο (Olókaino)The Holocene epoch
Italian olocene
- oloceneThe Holocene epoch
Norwegian Holocen
- HolocenThe Holocene epoch
Polish holoceński, aluwialny
- holoceńskirelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- aluwialnyrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- holocenThe Holocene epoch
- aluwiumThe Holocene epoch
Portuguese holoceno, Holoceno
- holocenorelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- HolocenoThe Holocene epoch
Russian голоцен
- голоцен (golocen)relating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
Swedish holocen, holocen
- holocenrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- holocenThe Holocene epoch
Turkish holosen, Holosen
- holosenrelating to the epoch from about 11,000 years ago to the present
- HolosenThe Holocene epoch
Cite this entry
APA
Holocene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holocene
MLA
“Holocene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holocene. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Holocene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holocene.
Source: Holocene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.