century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a period of 100 years

a company that has been in business for more than a century

specifically : one of the 100-year divisions of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history

the third century A.D./B.C

the 18th century

2

: a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things

3

a

: a subdivision of the Roman legion

b

: a voting unit of ancient Rome constituted according to property qualifications

4

: a race over a hundred units (such as yards, miles, or meters)

Examples of century in a Sentence

It took more than a century to complete the cathedral.

The pottery dates back to the sixth century B.C.E.

When the prince got married, it was called the wedding of the century.

Recent Examples on the Web

The villa’s front includes a clock that was commissioned by Marchesa Nathalie Antinori at the beginning of the 20th century. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024

Kansas City’s West Side neighborhood is a historically Hispanic neighborhood that boomed to life at the turn of the 20th century. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2024

The Japanese house presented the seventh iteration of the Atelier high jewelry collection plus its fourth collaboration with the Ritz Paris, with four chapters inspired by the hotel’s sparkling soirées, its iconic staircase or the style of its elegant denizens of the early 20th century. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 12 July 2024

In this fictional world, the American space program continues to operate at Apollo-era levels of urgency well into the 21st century, resulting in permanent commercial colonies on both the moon and Mars. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin centuria, irregular from centum hundred

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing century

• century plant
• the turn of the century

Kids Definition

century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsench-(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a group of 100 things

2

: a period of 100 years