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

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

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

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2022

Specifically, Book 1 of Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” which reaches its tricentennial this year.

From Washington Post • Jan. 8, 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

Their schedule includes a private meeting with Gov. John Bel Edwards before a welcoming ceremony led by Mayor LaToya Cantrell at Gallier Hall , a 165-year-old former City Hall now renovated for the tricentennial.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 15, 2018

The tricentennial has kicked off several major infrastructure improvements, including a remodeling of popular Bourbon Street, which hasn’t been done since 1928, and a new airport terminal that is due in 2019.

From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2018