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.
Michelle Obama headlined a special speaker series at the Fort Worth Convention Center, capping Lee's centennial celebration while raising funds for the National Juneteenth Museum. — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 For Marshall, the compelling part of the brand equity that comes with an anniversary like NBC’s centennial is the generational aspect. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Starring Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson, the film was commissioned by Korean luxury car brand Genesis to celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s centennial in June this year and had its world premiere in Venice. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Arriving on the centennial birthday of the beloved Baldwin, the Grammy-winning record is nearly 80-minutes long and often features the author’s words, some sung (Justin Hicks) or spoken (poet Staceyann Chin). — David Harris, SPIN, 6 Oct. 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

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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 14 Oct. 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
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