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The Holocene is the current geological epoch of the Quaternary period, following the Pleistocene. It began at the end of the last glacial maximum, about 11,700 years ago, when global climates stabilized and ice sheets largely retreated. The Holocene is characterized by a warmer, more stable climate compared with the preceding glacial cycles and by the development and intensification of human societies.

The name Holocene derives from Greek words meaning "entirely recent" or "completely new." It was coined in the 19th century to distinguish the current epoch from older geological units and to mark the transition from the broad Pleistocene stage to a distinct era of relatively stable climate and landscapes, many of which have been heavily modified by humans.

In 2018 the International Union of Geological Sciences formalized a subdivision scheme for the Holocene, naming three stages: Greenlandian, Northgripian, and Meghalayan. The Greenlandian spans the earlier part of the epoch, roughly from 11,700 to 8,320 years ago; the Northgripian covers about 8,320 to 4,200 years ago; the Meghalayan extends from around 4,200 years ago to the present. These stages are defined using global stratigraphic markers and are calibrated to radiocarbon dating where possible.

Human activity became a dominant influence on the environment during the Holocene, with the rise of agriculture, permanent settlements, urbanization, industrialization, and modern technology. Because of the scale of anthropogenic impact, some scientists advocate designating a new epoch, the Anthropocene, to reflect these changes; however, the Anthropocene has not yet been officially recognized as a formal subdivision of the geologic time scale by the IUGS.