centennial
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, or marking the completion of, a period of 100 years.
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pertaining to a 100th anniversary.
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lasting 100 years.
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100 years old.
noun
adjective
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relating to, lasting for, or completing a period of 100 years
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occurring every 100 years
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of centennial
1790–1800; < Latin cent- 100 ( see cent) + English -ennial pertaining to a period of years (extracted from biennial )
Explanation
If your parents are celebrating their centennial wedding anniversary, make sure you throw them a really big party. Centennial is a word to describe something that has lasted for 100 years — so your parents have been married an unusually long time! When you notice the cent- bit in the word centennial you probably think of words like century (100 years) and cent (100 pennies that make up a dollar), and that tips you off that centennial has something to do with the number 100. What these words all share in common is an origin in the Latin word centum, meaning 100. In the case of the adjective centennial, the addition of -ennial gives the word its sense of describing a one hundred year anniversary.
Vocabulary lists containing centennial
Perfect Ten: Dec, Cent, Mille
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"Sisters" by Raina Telgemeier
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 15–January 21, 2022
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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.
The show celebrates the late jazz musician’s centennial through imagery captured over a career spanning nearly five decades.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
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snapshots; souvenirs from the 1876 centennial; numerous depictions of Washington; flags; eagles and more join quilts, historical documents, paintings, toys and other works from 1776 to the present.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
The collection of centennial quarters Toby’s mom had given him before she split.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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.
