centennial

noun

cen·​ten·​ni·​al sen-ˈte-nē-əl How to pronounce centennial (audio)
: a 100th anniversary or its celebration
centennial adjective
centennially
sen-ˈte-nē-ə-lē How to pronounce centennial (audio)
adverb

Examples of centennial in a Sentence

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.
This story is part of a retrospective series commemorating NBC’s centennial that Variety is publishing through a partnership with NBCUniversal. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 July 2026 The pieces will be on view at the Tate Modern later this year, extending 2025’s centennial celebration of Rauschenberg’s birth. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 July 2026 The South Shore Line plans to celebrate the centennial of the electrification of the Illinois Central Railroad this month. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Kansas City’s official Fourth of July was a multilayer celebration for America’s 250th birthday, the centennial of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for centennial

Word History

Etymology

Latin centum + English -ennial (as in biennial)

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centennial was in 1791

Rhymes for centennial

See All Rhymes for centennial

Browse Nearby Words

centenier
centennial
centennial brown
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Cite this Entry

“Centennial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centennial. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on centennial

Nglish: Translation of centennial for Spanish Speakers

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