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.
To celebrate its centennial this year, the symbolic starting point of Route 66 was extended north and east to Navy Pier. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Glasper then beautifully played the song on piano that night in Blue Note, adding recognizable notes from John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme near the end as a tribute to the jazz legend’s year-long centennial celebration. — William E. Ketchum Iii, VIBE.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Though Route 66 was decommissioned in the 1980s, its popularity as an Americana-rich driving route has grown in recent years, especially during this year’s centennial celebration of the road. — Los Angeles Times, 13 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 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 20 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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