This paper studies the e-ergodicity for discrete-time recurrent Markov chains. It proves that thee-order deviation matrix exists and is finite if and only if the chain is (e + 2)-ergodic, and then the algebraicdecay rates of the n-step transition probability to the stationary distribution are obtained. The criteria fore-ergodicity are given in terms of existence of solution to an equation. The main results are illustrated by some examples.