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

News of Custer's defeat stunned Americans, who were celebrating their country's centennial. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

Panama City is having a moment this year, thanks to the centennial of its famed canal and the transformation of the 1917 neoclassical headquarters of the American Trade Developing Company, in the leafy UNESCO World Heritage neighborhood of Casco Viejo, into a hotel. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026

In another four years, Pat's will celebrate their centennial. — Siafa Lewis, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Those recordings, plus another session featuring Sonny Rollins in John Coltrane’s place on saxophone, are chronicled in a new box set from Craft recordings, assembled to celebrate Davis’ centennial. — Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 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