tricentennial

American  

[trahy-sen-ten-ee-uhl] / ˌtraɪ sɛnˈtɛn i əl /

Also tercentennial.

adjective

1. pertaining to 300 years or a period of 300 years.

2. marking the completion of such a period.

   a tricentennial celebration.

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noun

1. a 300th anniversary or its celebration.

Etymology

Origin of tricentennial

First recorded in 1880–85; tri- + centennial

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Explanation

A tricentennial is a 300-year anniversary. If something has been around for a whole 300 years, it's probably worth talking about. The prefix tri- means "three," and the root cent means "hundred." Add the suffix -ennial, derived from the Latin annus, meaning "year," and you get tricentennial: literally, "three hundred years." You'll usually see this word when people are discussing the anniversary of the founding of countries or other important institutions. Don't confuse it with triennial, a "three-year anniversary." A tricentennial celebration is definitely going to be a bigger deal than a triennial one.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tricentennial

Then our children and grandchildren can go on and write about the upcoming tricentennial, and what we must do to make it to 350.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

In 2018, the Times-Picayune cited it multiple times in a series of articles commemorating the city’s tricentennial.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2022

In 1792, the first recorded U.S. celebration of Columbus Day was held to mark the tricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ landing.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 12, 2018

This summer, to coincide with the tricentennial of the city, San Antonio’s Spanish heritage is set to come to the forefront.

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2018

Yale’s push to globalize accelerated after the school celebrated its tricentennial in 2001.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 21, 2016

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