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Synonyms

centennial

American  
[sen-ten-ee-uhl] / sɛnˈtɛn i əl /

adjective

  1. pertaining to, or marking the completion of, a period of 100 years.

  2. pertaining to a 100th anniversary.

  3. lasting 100 years.

  4. 100 years old.

noun

  1. a 100th anniversary or its celebration; centenary.

centennial British  
/ sɛnˈtɛnɪəl /

adjective

  1. relating to, lasting for, or completing a period of 100 years

  2. occurring every 100 years

"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

noun

  1. another name for centenary

"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

Other Word Forms

  • centennially adverb
  • precentennial adjective

Etymology

Origin of centennial

1790–1800; < Latin cent- 100 ( cent ) + English -ennial pertaining to a period of years (extracted from biennial )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They will continue to be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and televised live on ABC when the centennial ceremony is held in 2028.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Patriotic 20th-century snapshots; souvenirs from the 1876 centennial; numerous depictions of Washington; flags; eagles and more join quilts, historical documents, paintings, toys and other works from 1776 to the present.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

In recent weeks, people across the globe have paid tribute to the star composer, with Budapest marking his centennial with special events, concerts and documentaries.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

“Our centennial year marked a significant milestone, underscored by the highest full-year sales and revenues in Caterpillar’s history and a single-quarter record of $19.1 billion,” said Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

After seeing women omitted from history in the centennial celebrations, the suffragists decided to write their own account of the women’s suffrage movement.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.