Oligocene

O1L1I1G2O1C3E1N1E1

adjective

Of a geologic epoch within the Paleogene period from about 34 to 23 million years ago; marked by the rapid evolution in a warm climate.

OriginGerman Oligozän →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiveOligocene (not comparable)
  1. not comparablegeographyOf a geologic epoch within the Paleogene period from about 34 to 23 million years ago; marked by the rapid evolution in a warm climate.
proper noun
  1. geographyThe Oligocene epoch.

Origin

  1. GermanOligozän
  2. EnglishOligocene

From German Oligozän (originally spelt Oligocän, coined in 1854). By surface analysis, oligo- + -cene.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan oligocè, oligocènic
  • oligocèof the Oligocene epoch
  • oligocènicof the Oligocene epoch
  • OligocèOligocene epoch
Dutch oligoceen
  • oligoceenOligocene epoch
Estonian oligotseen
  • oligotseenOligocene epoch
Finnish oligoseenikautinen, oligoseenikausi
  • oligoseenikautinenof the Oligocene epoch
  • oligoseenikausiOligocene epoch
German oligozän, Oligozän
  • oligozänof the Oligocene epoch
  • OligozänOligocene epoch
Greek ολιγόκαινος, Ολιγόκαινο
  • ολιγόκαινος (oligókainos)of the Oligocene epoch
  • Ολιγόκαινο (Oligókaino)Oligocene epoch
Polish oligoceński, oligocen
  • oligoceńskiof the Oligocene epoch
  • oligocenOligocene epoch

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

oleogenic
Cite this entry
APA

Oligocene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oligocene

MLA

“Oligocene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oligocene. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Oligocene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oligocene.

Source: Oligocene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.