centenarian

American  

[sen-tn-air-ee-uhn] / ˌsɛn tnˈɛər i ən /

adjective

1. pertaining to or having lived 100 years.

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noun

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

centenarian British  

/ ˌsɛntɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who is at least 100 years old

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adjective

1. being at least 100 years old

2. of or relating to a centenarian

Usage

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!

Etymology

Origin of centenarian

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

Explanation

People who live to be 100 years old are centenarians. As life expectancy increases, the number of centenarians does too. Today's centenarians have lived almost 30 years longer than the average U.S. life span, which is about 77 years. If you consider everything that's occurred over the last century, it's pretty amazing to think of all the changes and historical events that most centenarians have witnessed. You can use the word as an adjective, too: "I'd like you to meet my centenarian great-grandmother!" The Latin root of centenarian is centum, "hundred."

Example Sentences

However, several studies have cast doubt on the validity of global centenarian numbers, suggesting data errors, unreliable public records and missing birth certificates may account for elevated figures.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025

The centenarian lived long enough to read, see and even contribute to a justifiably kinder account of his time in office.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

Having the right genes plays an important role in becoming a centenarian, says aging researcher Henne Holstege of Amsterdam University Medical Center.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 20, 2024

Schallock has been signing his share of baseballs leading up to joining the rare centenarian club.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2024

Vortigern perceived in the center of a cluster of centenarian chestnut trees a hut constructed of thick layers of peat heaped upon one another.

From The Carlovingian Coins Or The Daughters of Charlemagne. A Tale of the Ninth Century by Sue, Eugène