prep
circa
SUR-kuh
prep
1
Used before a date to mean "approximately" or "around", when the exact date isn't known.
"The painting was made circa 1650."
"She was born circa 1890, according to the parish records."
How to Use Circa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word placed before a date to show it's an estimate, not exact — often abbreviated "c." or "ca."
Common pairings
circa 1900
built circa
dated circa
Word Forms
Circas plural
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The painting was made _____ 1650.
Etymology
A direct borrowing from Latin circa, meaning "around" or "about".