BCE

before the Christian Era; before the Common Era — used to refer to the years that came before the birth of Jesus Christ

◊ B.C.E. is now often used instead of B.C. especially in scientific writing.

• 550 B.C.E.
• in the fifth century B.C.E. [=between the years 499 and 400 B.C.E.]

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— compare a.d., b.c., c.e.