centenary

American  

[sen-ten-uh-ree, sen-tn-er-ee, sen-tee-nuh-ree] / sɛnˈtɛn ə ri, ˈsɛn tnˌɛr i, sɛnˈti nə ri /

adjective

1. of or relating to a period of 100 years.

2. recurring once in every 100 years.

   a centenary celebration.

---

noun

plural

centenaries

1. a centennial.

2. a period of 100 years; century.

centenary British  

/ sɛnˈtiːnərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a period of 100 years

2. occurring once every 100 years

---

noun

1. a 100th anniversary or its celebration

Etymology

Origin of centenary

1600–10; < Latin centēnārius (adj.), equivalent to centēn ( ī ) a hundred each ( cent ( um ) 100 + -ēnī distributive suffix) + -ārius -ary

Explanation

A centenary is the hundredth anniversary of some event. When your great grandfather turns 100, his birthday party will be the centenary of his birth. If your town is celebrating its centenary, that means it's exactly 100 years old. You can also use this word as an adjective, to describe something that's been around for a hundred years: "The orchestra's centenary concert will happen next summer." Centenary comes from the Latin centum, "hundred," which is also the root of its synonym, centennial.

Example Sentences

The Oscars will leave Hollywood after celebrating their centenary, organizers said Thursday, as they announced a long-term deal to hold the gala in central Los Angeles.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Lufthansa, celebrating the centenary of its maiden flight next month, announced its highest-ever annual revenue of €39.6 billion for 2025 last week, beating analyst expectations, as it raised its dividend and lifted 2026 financial guidance.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

The “PLA centenary goals” pegged to 2027 include overhauls to the military’s organizational structures, hardware upgrades and realistic training aimed at making China’s armed forces more agile and technologically adept.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

The Jesus Christ tower is scheduled to be blessed on June 10 after the dismantling of the scaffolding to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi's death.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

There was also, poignantly now, a slender, hardbound history of Centralia, prepared to mark the town’s centenary just before the outbreak of the fire.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson