bicentennial

[bahy-sen-ten-ee-uh l]

adjective

pertaining to or in honor of a 200th anniversary: bicentennial celebration; a bicentennial exposition.
consisting of or lasting 200 years: a bicentennial period.
occurring every 200 years: the bicentennial return of a comet.

noun

a 200th anniversary: The United States had its bicentennial in 1976.
a celebration of such an anniversary.

Also especially British, bicentenary.

Origin of bicentennial

First recorded in 1880–85; bi-¹ + centennial

Related formsbi·cen·ten·ni·al·ly, adverb

Usage note

See bi-¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bicentennial

Contemporary Examples of bicentennial

Williams worked with the company again for the 1999 film Bicentennial Man.
The Genie Is Free: Robin Williams's Complicated Relationship With Disney
Kevin Fallon
August 12, 2014
And Ralph Lauren received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal.
Annie Leibovitz Bailed on Kimye Wedding; Chloe Sevigny Hates Modeling
The Fashion Beast Team
June 18, 2014
“It was on the bicentennial: 4th of July 1976,” Martinez recalls.
Cliff Martinez’s Journey From Red Hot Chili Peppers to Composer of ‘Drive’ and ‘Spring Breakers’
Marlow Stern
March 21, 2013
Biographer Paula Byrne, author of The Real Jane Austen, celebrates the bicentennial of the beloved novel.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Joy: ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Turns 200
Paula Byrne
January 30, 2013
I grew up in Massachusetts, where the Bicentennial was a spectacularly big deal.
My Tea Party History
Jill Lepore
October 5, 2010

Historical Examples of bicentennial

Let us engrave it now in each of our hearts as we begin our Bicentennial.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006
Various
There is excitement over bicentennial celebration, and I always find something of interest in what is daily occurring.
Letters and Literary Memorials of Samuel J. Tilden, v. 2
Samuel J. Tilden
I believe that we can make the years leading to our Bicentennial the best four years in American history.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006
Various
As we begin our Bicentennial, America is still one of the youngest nations in recorded history.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006
Various

Word Origin and History for bicentennial

also bi-centennial, 1843 (adj.), 1871 (noun), American English, from bi- + centennial (q.v.). In rivalry with bicentenary (1831) which seems to have been the more common word in Britain.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper