centenarian

[sen-tn-air-ee-uhn]

adjective

1. pertaining to or having lived 100 years.

noun

1. a person who has reached the age of 100.

centenarian

/ ˌsɛntɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who is at least 100 years old

adjective

1. being at least 100 years old

2. of or relating to a centenarian

Word History and Origins

Origin of centenarian¹

First recorded in 1745–50; from Latin centenāri(us) ( centenary ) + -an

Example Sentences

Setting a new record for the 55th year in a row, the number of centenarians in Japan was 99,763 as of September, the health ministry said on Friday.

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Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon three days later, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds.

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Years ago, he attended a senior event in Ventura where centenarians were asked how they stayed healthy.

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When centenarians celebrate another landmark birthday, it is traditional to ask them what they attribute their long lives to.

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She asked Calvert to gather a few things — a jacket, some jeans, her cellphone — but the centenarian kept chatting cheerfully.

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When To Use

What does centenarian mean?

A centenarian is someone who is 100 years old or older.Centenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone who’s 100 or older, as in The ceremony honored centenarian veterans, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my centenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s).Someone who is 110 years or older can be called a supercentenarian. Actually, if you’re 110 or older, you can be called whatever you want.Example: I can’t believe I’m going to be a centenarian—tomorrow I turn 100!