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

Porta Metronia, just a stone's throw away, features nearly 260-foot-long military barracks dating back to the second century AD. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025

Indigenous Amazonian communities have cultivated them for centuries. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025

Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, the city adopted a sprawling, car-centric approach to urban planning that wasn’t friendly to other modes of transportation, such as walking. —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025

Use antiques to anchor your room and then mix in modern touches with bold fabrics, mid-century lighting, and sculptural accessories. —Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for century

• penitentiary
• plenipotentiary

Kids Definition

century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsench-(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a group of 100 things

2

: a period of 100 years