# centennial

/sɛnˈtɛniəɫ/ (US) · /sɛntˈɛnɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/centennial
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to 100 years

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

happening once every 100 years, or relating to a 100th anniversary.

For teachers: relating to or associated with the commemoration of an event that occurred a century prior; occurring once every hundred years.

- The town held a big parade for its centennial celebration this summer.
- The university published a special centennial edition of its journal to mark one hundred years of academic excellence and research.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. 100th anniversary

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the 100th anniversary of a significant event.

For teachers: the hundredth anniversary of a specific event or the beginning of an institution.

- The museum is planning a special exhibition for the centennial of the artist's birth.
- In preparation for the centennial, the city council commissioned a series of bronze statues to honour the founding members of the community.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'centenary' is more common than 'centennial' for the noun sense.

## Examples

- The city held a grand centennial parade.
- The university celebrated its centennial with a week of lectures and alumni reunions.
- The centennial exhibition showcased artifacts that traced the nation's evolution from a colonial outpost to a modern industrial power.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.