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Definition of centenary

centenary

/sɛnˈtɛnəri/
cen · ten · a · ry
Plural:centenaries
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centenary Lexical Profile

centenary Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British The hundredth anniversary of a significant event, or a celebration commemorating it.

Example

"The university will celebrate its centenary next autumn with a series of public lectures."

2

A period of one hundred years; a century.

Example

"Several major social reforms took place over the course of that single centenary."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for centenary

• adjective

1

Relating to or marking a hundredth anniversary or a period of one hundred years.

Example

"The national museum organized a special exhibition for the poet's centenary celebration."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for centenary

Word Nuance & Usage

"Centenary" is the standard term in British and Commonwealth English, whereas "centennial" is much more common in North American English for both the noun and adjective senses.

• Rhymes for centenary

• Nearby Words

centaurea
centavo
centenarian
centenary
centennial
center
centered

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 17th century from Latin centenarius ("consisting of a hundred"), derived from centeni ("a hundred each"), from centum ("hundred").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Centenary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/centenary
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