Definition

1. Noun:

   • The 100th anniversary of an event, or the celebration held to mark this occasion: "centenary" refers specifically to the one-hundredth anniversary of a significant occurrence.
   • A period of one hundred years: In a broader, less common sense, it can denote a century or a span of one hundred years.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to a period of one hundred years: Used to describe something that lasts for, occurs every, or is connected to a century.
   • Marking or relating to a 100th anniversary: Describing an event, celebration, or object that commemorates a centenary.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The town is planning a grand centenary to mark its founding.
  • The university celebrated its centenary with a series of lectures and concerts.

• Adjective:

  • The museum is hosting a centenary exhibition of the artist's work.
  • They published a centenary history of the club.

Advanced Usage

• "To mark/celebrate/observe a centenary": Common collocations for commemorating a 100th anniversary.

  • The nation will observe the centenary of the peace treaty next year.

• "Centenary year": The specific year in which the 100th anniversary occurs.

  • Plans for our centenary year include a special publication and a gala.

Variants and Related Words

• Centennial (chiefly US): A direct synonym, used as both a noun and an adjective (e.g., ).
• Centenarian (noun): A person who is one hundred years old or more.
• Century (noun): A period of one hundred years. (Note: "Century" is the more general term for the time period, while "centenary/centennial" strongly implies commemoration.)

Synonyms

• Hundredth anniversary: The literal meaning.
• Centennial: (US English preference).

Related Phrases

• "To reach a centenary": To arrive at the point of being one hundred years old.
  • The institution will reach its centenary in 2030.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or completing a period of 100 years
   • centennial celebration

Noun

1. the 100th anniversary (or the celebration of it)