a sign of the times

noun phrase

: something that shows the kinds of things that are happening, popular, important, etc., in a culture at a particular period in history
Having metal detectors in schools is a sign of the times.

Examples of a sign of the times in a Sentence

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In a sign of the times, perhaps, Dr. Casey was unafraid to fight against the system in order to help his patients. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 In a sign of the times, the money the paper got from print advertising has largely vanished as readers have moved online. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025 In a sign of the times, almost none of the senators who questioned Feinberg during his confirmation hearing seemed concerned with ethical issues. Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 The home was a sign of the times and had all the trappings of a palatial McMansion: a grand two-story entryway, multiple fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, a pool with a waterfall, and a primary suite with its own fireplace, lounge area, custom walk-in closet, and separate dressing rooms. Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for a sign of the times

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Cite this Entry

“A sign of the times.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20sign%20of%20the%20times. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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