Phanerozoic

[ fan-er-uh-zoh-ik ]

noun

1. the eon comprising the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.

adjective

1. of or relating to this eon.

Phanerozoic

/ ˌfænərəˈzəʊɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to that part of geological time represented by rocks in which the evidence of life is abundant, comprising the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras

noun

1. the Phanerozoic
   the Phanerozoic era

Phanerozoic

/ făn′ər-ə-zō′ĭk /

1. The period of geologic time from about 540 million years ago to the present, including the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras. When this period of time was first defined, it was thought to coincide with the first appearance of life in the fossil record. It is now known that bacterial and other forms of life were present in the Precambrian Eon, and the Phanerozoic is understood to coincide with the appearance of life forms that evolved external skeletons.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phanerozoic¹

1925–30; < Greek phaneró ( s ) manifest, visible + zo- + -ic

Example Sentences

"Our work also demonstrates a strong correlation between global temperature at CO2 concentrations across the Phanerozoic, highlighting the important role of this greenhouse gas in controlling Earth’s temperature."

From Salon

Their models identify planets like Phanerozoic Earth as the most promising targets for finding life in the cosmos.

From Science Daily

But otherwise little is certain, especially early in the Phanerozoic, which spans the past 541 million years.

From Science Magazine

Sometimes too you will see the term Phanerozoic used to describe the span encompassing the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic eras.

From Literature

A putative geological Anthropocene epoch would be nested within the Quaternary period, Cenozoic era and Phanerozoic eon.

From Nature