centenary

noun

cen·te·na·ry sen-ˈte-nə-rē

ˈsen-tə-ˌner-ē

-ˌne-rē,

especially British sen-ˈtē-nə-rē

plural centenaries

: centennial

centenary adjective

Did you know?

A centenary, like its cousin centennial, is an anniversary. Thus, the year 2013 may mark the centenary of a town's founding, and the year-long calendar of public events that the town sponsors for the occasion—that is, the celebration of the anniversary—can also be called a centenary. Individuals have their own centenaries, which usually celebrate their births; thus, Gerald Ford's centenary will occur in 2013, and John Kennedy's in 2017. And if you live long enough to be a centenarian, you'll be around to join the celebrations.

Examples of centenary in a Sentence

This year marks the centenary of the building's construction.

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.

The New Yorker is celebrating its centenary with a full year of editorial projects and events that honor the magazine’s distinguished past and its place in society today. —

The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025 Our weekly Buckley centenary feature kicks off with the first WFB column to appear in an issue of NR: an assessment of a useful dispatch from Ivory Tower leftism. —

William F. Buckley Jr., National Review, 3 Jan. 2025 This centenary offers a moment to reflect on his revolutionary impact, innovation, and enduring legacy. —

Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor shared personal memories and professional insights about his grandfather, pioneering Indian filmmaker Raj Kapoor, during a discussion with director Rahul Rawail at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Kapoor’s centenary is being celebrated. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for centenary