initialism (acronym) for "Before Common Era" or "Before Christian Era," 1881; see C.E. A more or less secular alternative to B.C.
Entries linking to b.c.e.
C.E.
abbreviation of Common Era or Christian Era, a secular or non-Christian alternative to A.D., attested from 1838 in works on Jewish history. Companion B.C.E. is attested from 1881.
B.C.
abbreviation of Before Christ, in chronology, attested by 1823. The phrase itself, Before Christ, in dating, with exact years, is in use by 1660s.