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

After the death of the motel’s longtime owners, and recognizing its value ahead of the centennial, the city worked with the new owner last year to help preserve its historic sign. — New York Times, 28 July 2026

Betye Saar died on July 26, four days before her 100th birthday, to the shock and sadness of an art world preparing to celebrate the centennial of the singular assemblage artist. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 July 2026

Prisco’s Family Market is celebrating its centennial by creating new traditions alongside longtime ones. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Duncan helped stage several exhibitions of Pousette-Dart’s work, including a showcase celebrating the centennial of his birth at the Whitney Museum of American Art, to an exhibition at the Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, Germany. — News Desk, Artforum, 22 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