centenarian
noun
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
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 11 Dec. 2024
Of all centenarians alive today, Schaeffer said, 78% are women, and 77% are white.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
This research mirrors that of the Blue Zone’s findings regarding Okinawan centenarians forming a Moai, or group of individuals who pledge to be lifelong friends.
—Wes Moss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Eleven centenarians celebrated milestone birthdays at Rowntree Gardens on Friday, Oct. 11, an event honoring their achievements in life, contributions to their communities and – of course – hitting triple digits.
—Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for centenarian 
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Cite this Entry
“Centenarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centenarian. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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centenarian
noun
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