circa

C2+ Topic:Grammar & Function Words

US /ˈsɚkə/ UK /ˈsɜːkə/ See IPA manual

prep adv

Meanings

1

prep
approximately; used with dates to indicate an estimate

The manuscript dates from circa 1450, by scholarly consensus.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 prep · approximately; used with... approximately about around roughly

Opposites

exactly precisely

Word family

Related forms circle circus circuit

Etymology

Directly from Latin circā ('around, about'), related to circus ('ring, circle') and circum ('around').

circā Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words

# circa

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** prep, adv
**IPA (US):** ˈsɚkə
**IPA (UK):** ˈsɜːkə

## Meanings
1. approximately; used with dates to indicate an estimate

## Examples
- The manuscript dates from circa 1450, by scholarly consensus.

## Synonyms
- approximately
- about
- around
- roughly

## Antonyms
- exactly
- precisely

## Related Forms
- circle
- circus
- circuit

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: circā

## Etymology
Directly from Latin circā ('around, about'), related to circus ('ring, circle') and circum ('around').

## AI Etymology
Circa is a preposition and adverb meaning "approximately; used with dates to indicate an estimate". Historically, it is directly from Latin circā ('around, about'), related to circus ('ring, circle') and circum ('around'). The historical chain is anchored in Latin circā. Close English family members include circle, circus, and circuit. This keeps the modern preposition and adverb sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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circa

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