centennial

noun

cen·​ten·​ni·​al sen-ˈte-nē-əl How to pronounce centennial (audio)
: a 100th anniversary or its celebration
centennial adjective
centennially
sen-ˈte-nē-ə-lē How to pronounce centennial (audio)
adverb

Examples of centennial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the 1980s, there was a restoration project ahead of the statue's centennial celebration. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 As Knoebels celebrates its centennial, the family behind the park explains why free admission remains at the heart of its success. — Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 There’s an inevitable triumphalism in all this rejoicing, and that was certainly also true in 1876 during the nation’s centennial. — Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 Maxwell was celebrating not only the nation’s 250th birthday but also the insurance agency’s centennial. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for centennial

Word History

Etymology

Latin centum + English -ennial (as in biennial)

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centennial was in 1791

Rhymes for centennial

See All Rhymes for centennial

Browse Nearby Words

centenier
centennial
centennial brown
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Cite this Entry

“Centennial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centennial. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

centennial

1 of 2 noun
cen·​ten·​ni·​al
sen-ˈten-ē-əl
: a 100th anniversary or its celebration

centennial

2 of 2 adjective
: relating to a period of 100 years
centennially
-ē-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on centennial

Nglish: Translation of centennial for Spanish Speakers

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