centenary

noun

cen·​te·​na·​ry sen-ˈte-nə-rē How to pronounce centenary (audio) ˈsen-tə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce centenary (audio)
-ˌne-rē,
 especially British  sen-ˈtē-nə-rē
plural centenaries
centenary adjective

Did you know?

A centenary, like its cousin centennial, is an anniversary. Thus, the year 2013 may mark the centenary of a town's founding, and the year-long calendar of public events that the town sponsors for the occasion—that is, the celebration of the anniversary—can also be called a centenary. Individuals have their own centenaries, which usually celebrate their births; thus, Gerald Ford's centenary will occur in 2013, and John Kennedy's in 2017. And if you live long enough to be a centenarian, you'll be around to join the celebrations.

Examples of centenary in a Sentence

This year marks the centenary of the building's construction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To celebrate its centenary, The New Yorker invited fiction writers to contribute stories inspired by works from the archive, then to explain why those works inspired them. Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 In tandem with Chenier’s centenary, the Rolling Stones may be preparing a new record – a follow-up to 2023’s Hackney Diamonds, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 25 June 2025 Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated the centenary of Pierre Boulez’s birth with an extravagance of sonic invention and dance. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 The memorial is expected to be unveiled in 2026, marking what would have been the late Queen’s centenary. Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for centenary

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin centenarium, from Latin centenarius of a hundred, from centeni one hundred each, from centum hundred — more at hundred

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centenary was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Centenary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centenary. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

centenary

adjective or noun
cen·​ten·​a·​ry
sen-ˈten-ə-rē,
ˈsent-ᵊn-ˌer-ē
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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