centenarian

noun

cen·​te·​nar·​i·​an ˌsen-tə-ˈner-ē-ən 

-ˈne-rē-

: one that is 100 years old or older

centenarian adjective

Did you know?

We can't say there are exactly 100 English words based on the Latin root centum, meaning "hundred," but there are certainly dozens. "Centenarian" isn't the oldest one; it only dates from the late 1700s. Far older is "centurion" (an ancient Roman military officer), which has been around since the 13th century. A younger "centum" offspring is "centisecond," a rare term for 1/100 of a second that dates from the 1950s. From colorful words such as "centicipitous" (which means "100-headed") to practical ones like "centgener" ("a device for planting 100 seeds"), "centum" descendants have enlivened our language for centuries.

Examples of centenarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within the Sardinia blue zone, one study found centenarians and near-centenarians were more likely to carry a specific form of the gene TAS2R38, which codes for a protein involved in bitter taste response. —science.org, 21 Nov. 2024

And the centenarian is determined to continue her independence streak. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Some even claimed that most people born today will live to be centenarians. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024

The Gleaner, a publication from Leeloo’s former home of Kingston, also spoke with the centenarian about her milestone birthday. —Gil MacIas, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

centenarian

noun

cen·​te·​nar·​i·​an ˌsent-ᵊn-ˈer-ē-ən 

: a person 100 years old or older

centenarian adjective