In different contexts, the abbreviation CE can have varied meanings. The most common uses of this abbreviation are “Common Era,” “Conformité Européene,” and “Chief Executive,” depending on the field it’s used in.
Common Era (CE)
Common Era (CE) is a term used in the field of chronology and history. CE is used to indicate dates that happened after the beginning of the “common era.” The system of using CE, or its counterpart BCE, “Before Common Era,” has been increasingly adopted in academic and scientific publications as a religiously neutral alternative to the use of AD or BC.
Here, 1 CE means 1 AD, and 2019 CE means 2019 AD. The use of CE instead of AD prevents the need for a religious standpoint in matters of historical and scientific chronology.
Conformité Européene (CE)
In the context of European regulations, CE stands for Conformité Européene, which translates to “European Conformity.” It’s a symbol that manufacturers mark certain products with to indicate compliance with European health, safety, and environmental protection legislation.
The CE mark is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the standards of EU legislation and can be sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). Non-EU companies also use the CE marking to export their products to Europe.
Chief Executive (CE)
In a business context, CE often represents “Chief Executive”. The Chief Executive is typically the highest-ranking executive in a company, whose primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions and managing the overall operations and resources of a company. The Chief Executive usually reports directly to the board of directors.
In summary, CE, like many abbreviations, can have multiple meanings depending on the context. When reading or hearing it used, it’s best to understand the context to determine what specific meaning applies.