centenary

noun

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cen·te·na·ry | \ sen-ˈte-nə-rē

, ˈsen-tə-ˌner-ē, -ˌne-rē, especially British sen-ˈtē-nə-rē

plural centenaries

Definition of centenary

: centennial

Other Words from centenary Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about centenary

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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 As for the best cities, Lonely Planet sings the praises of Salzburg, Austria, which will be celebrating the centenary of its famed festival of music and drama next year. — Lori Rackl, chicagotribune.com, "Need vacation inspiration? Lonely Planet rolls out top travel spots for 2020.," 22 Oct. 2019 In a rare public event, however, Edward was present during the ceremony of the centenary of the birth of Queen Mary in London in 1967. — Katherine J Igoe, Marie Claire, "Did Queen Elizabeth Visit the Duke of Windsor Before He Died, Per 'The Crown'?," 15 Nov. 2019 By the centenary in 2049, Mr Xi has vowed, China will have developed to the point that its strength is plain for the world to see. — The Economist, "China’s median age will soon overtake America’s," 2 Nov. 2019 Kate and Meghan both attended last year's Remembrance Day, which marked the centenary of the armistice, with both of their husbands. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Duchess Kate, Duchess Meghan, and the Royals Will Reunite This Weekend for a Solemn Occasion," 5 Nov. 2019 Next year, events around the world will mark the centenary of his birth. — B.f. | Kendal, The Economist, "Revisiting Tom of Finland’s sexually explicit oeuvre," 24 Oct. 2019 Our coverage through 2020 will celebrate the centenary of that victory. — Susan Goldberg, National Geographic, "As we’ve told women’s stories, they’ve changed the world," 15 Oct. 2019 Sam Seibert on his centenary, and Robert Salonga’s article about Evergreen student Vi Tran. — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Bravo for stories on the goodness of people," 1 Sep. 2019 Princess Charlotte and Prince George may have stayed inside out of the hubbub of the Royal Air Force centenary celebrations in London on Tuesday, but Princess Charlotte still managed to steal the show. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "Princess Charlotte Had Some Adorable Attitude During the Royal Air Force Flypast," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'centenary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Centenary.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centenary. Accessed 22 January 2020.