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 inaugural event took place the last weekend of July with Wyclef Jean at the controls of Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, a beachside property in the Hamptons currently celebrating its centennial year. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026

Look for a rare painting by Jacob Lawrence, which is making its debut for the centennial. — Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026

Numerous Davis centennial tribute concerts have been held this year around the world and across the nation, with nearly a dozen in San Diego alone so far. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Social Security is celebrating its 91st birthday Friday—yet a prominent fiscal watchdog is warning that, without congressional action, the program in its current form may not survive to its centennial. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 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