Definition Turning Point

Definition

The term “turning point” (Zeitenwende) describes the “beginning of a new era”, a “turnaround in historical events” – especially in human contemporary history.

Synonyms

Upheaval – turn of the times – fundamental rethinking – change of world view, (beginning of) a new era (figurative) – nothing will be (like) as it was (before) (clichéd, exaggerated) – epochal (change of) era (exaggerated) – paradigm shift (figurative) – change of way of thinking (figurative) – turn of the times, turning point (especially the peaceful revolution in the GDR), (great) change of values.

German: (historischer) Wendepunkt, Zeitenwende

Note: According to the word corpus at DWDS, the term first appeared in 1913, 1920 and 1925; then increased in 1934, 1945 and significantly increased in 1948, 1957, 1993, 1996 and 1999. According to Google Trends (from 2004), it is notably Jan 2004, Nov 2011, Aug 2012, Nov/Dec 2012 (highest value), Feb 2019 and March 2022.