century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a period of 100 years

a company that has been in business for more than a century

specifically : one of the 100-year divisions of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history

the third century A.D./B.C

the 18th century

2

: a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things

3

a

: a subdivision of the Roman legion

b

: a voting unit of ancient Rome constituted according to property qualifications

4

: a race over a hundred units (such as yards, miles, or meters)

Examples of century in a Sentence

It took more than a century to complete the cathedral.

The pottery dates back to the sixth century B.C.E.

When the prince got married, it was called the wedding of the century.

Recent Examples on the Web

The First Company Governors Foot Guard Armory was built in 1888 as the headquarters for the Company’s Governor’s Foot Guard, the ceremonial military company that had been founded over a century earlier. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026

This necklace, which can also be worn as a tiara, dates back to the early nineteenth century and is composed of diamonds, rubies and spinels, mounted on a gold and silver structure. —Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026

The Fugitive Slave Act, from the nineteenth century, offers some lessons for today about state terror and civilian resistance. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026

Recently listed with Savills for €36 million (about $42 million), the sprawling property doesn’t just have a grand residence but also an authentic castle, along with a consecrated 12th-century church, its own vineyard, and olive groves. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin centuria, irregular from centum hundred

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing century

• century plant
• the turn of the century

Rhymes for century

• penitentiary
• plenipotentiary

Kids Definition

century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsench-(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a group of 100 things

2

: a period of 100 years