centennial

noun

cen·​ten·​ni·​al sen-ˈte-nē-əl 

: a 100th anniversary or its celebration

centennial adjective

centennially

sen-ˈte-nē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of centennial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The project, led by Visit Loveland, will replace a much smaller capsule buried 50 years ago during Colorado's centennial celebration. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Many Bayreuth productions are initially jeered, such as Patrice Chéreau's centennial staging in 1976 that moved the action to the Industrial Revolution, then cheered years later. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

During their centennial season, the Canadiens played in a series of retro sweaters from throughout their history, and eventually discontinued the practice. — The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

The massacre, which took place in Hamburg, South Carolina, began as a dispute between a local Black militia and two white citizens over whether the latter could cross the group’s centennial Fourth of July parade. — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin centum + English -ennial (as in biennial)

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for centennial

• bicentennial
• biennial
• decennial
• millennial
• perennial
• quadrennial
• quinquennial
• triennial
• sesquicentennial

Kids Definition

centennial

1 of 2 noun

cen·​ten·​ni·​al

sen-ˈten-ē-əl

: a 100th anniversary or its celebration

centennial

2 of 2 adjective

: relating to a period of 100 years

centennially

-ē-ə-lē

adverb