centurion
Americannoun
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(in the ancient Roman army) the commander of a century.
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Military. Centurion, any one of various British battle tanks in service from 1945 to 1967.
noun
Etymology
Origin of centurion
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Latin centuriōn- (stem of centuriō ), equivalent to centur(ia) century + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A centurion is a kind of soldier in the Roman army responsible for the command of a century, or one hundred, men. Centurion lives on in common language as the typical Roman soldier––countless generations of fifth graders have been asked to sketch their costumes. Their resilience in popular imagination may be ascribed to the role the centurion soldiers played in the Christian gospel story of the life of Jesus Christ.
Vocabulary lists containing centurion
Ancient Rome - Introductory
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The Son of Neptune
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Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
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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.
Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, a centurion against Australia, fell for nine exposing Sri Lank's shaky middle order and they folded in 16.4 overs.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
"It doesn't sit that well with me," England centurion Danny Care told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2025
However, centurion Aiden Markram continued where he left off from the previous day as he put South Africa on the brink of victory with a superb 136.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025
That advantage was extended to 145 as Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight steered England to 31-1 at the close, after first-innings centurion Maia Bouchier fell for a duck.
From BBC • Dec. 16, 2024
‘Oh, I’m not a lord.'. Octavian’s eyes crinkled. ‘Just a centurion, an augur and a humble priest doing his best to serve the gods.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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.
