century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a period of 100 years

a company that has been in business for more than a century

specifically : one of the 100-year divisions of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history

the third century A.D./B.C

the 18th century

2

: a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things

3

a

: a subdivision of the Roman legion

b

: a voting unit of ancient Rome constituted according to property qualifications

4

: a race over a hundred units (such as yards, miles, or meters)

Examples of century in a Sentence

It took more than a century to complete the cathedral.

The pottery dates back to the sixth century B.C.E.

When the prince got married, it was called the wedding of the century.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and lifespans are increasing, healthcare has advanced and more jobs rely on mental endurance, rather than raw physical labor. —Chad Willardson, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

The scope of these enormous solar storms is important to understand for technology experts in the 21st century, which is much more vulnerable to the whims of the sun due to society's dependence on electronic systems and space technologies. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 19 May 2025

Readers are likely aware of the transatlantic slave trade, the laying of telegraph lines in the nineteenth century, and the waging of wars by sea; name-checking these undertakings here does not meaningfully open up the book’s aperture. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

Today, more than a century later, Schulman says social media connects fans more intensely to celebrities, creating a bond that can help launch a comeback. —Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 19 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin centuria, irregular from centum hundred

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing century

• century plant
• the turn of the century

Rhymes for century

• penitentiary
• plenipotentiary

Kids Definition

century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsench-(ə-)rē 

plural centuries

1

: a group of 100 things

2

: a period of 100 years