centenary

[ sen-ten-uh-ree, sen-tn-er-ee; especially British sen-tee-nuh-ree ]

/ sɛnˈtɛn ə ri, ˈsɛn tnˌɛr i; especially British sɛnˈti nə ri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR centenary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a period of 100 years.

recurring once in every 100 years: a centenary celebration.

noun, plural cen·ten·ar·ies.

a centennial.

a period of 100 years; century.

Nearby words

centaurs, centaurus, centaury, centavo, centenarian, centenary, centenionalis, centennial, centennial state, center, center back

Origin of centenary

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

Can be confused

centenary centennial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for centenary

On the centenary of World War I, Europe's suddenly facing a crisis of Russian aggression.
Crimea Is Gone—What Does NATO Do Next?|Christopher Dickey|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Martin Luther King asked President John Kennedy to issue a new emancipation proclamation on the centenary of the first.
What Was the Goal of MLK’s March on Washington?|Charles Euchner|July 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thus are the historiographical trenches dug for the centenary.
The Utterly Pointless First World War|Michael F. Bishop|May 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
July 31 marks the centenary of the birth of the high priest of monetarism, Milton Friedman.
Nicholas Wapshott: A Lovefest Between Milton Friedman and J.M. Keynes|Nicholas Wapshott|July 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST

One hundred years ago today was the occasion for James Joyce to publish a piece on “The Centenary of Charles Dickens.”
Charles Dickens Bicentenary: Why We Should Care|Jimmy So|February 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
At the centenary of his birth, December 12, 1904, an effort was made to arouse enthusiasm.
The Abolition Crusade and Its Consequences|Hilary Abner Herbert
The first hung over the mantelpiece, and was called The Centenary Meeting.
The Farringdons|Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler
The sepoy army heard of our failures, and the centenary of the battle of Plassy was signalised by the Great Mutiny.
The Earl of Beaconsfield|James Anthony Froude
Never surely was there such a gathering in Herrnhut as on that Centenary Day.
History of the Moravian Church|J. E. Hutton
The centenary of his birth was celebrated at Penzance in February, 1879.
Cornish Worthies, Volume 1 (of 2)|Walter H. Tregellas

British Dictionary definitions for centenary

centenary

/ (sɛnˈtiːnərɪ) /

adjective

of or relating to a period of 100 years

occurring once every 100 years

noun plural -naries

a 100th anniversary or its celebration

Word Origin for centenary

C17: from Latin centēnārius of a hundred, from centēnī a hundred each, from centum hundred

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012