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

The total effective tariff rate in more than 25 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund — the highest level in more than a century. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025

The Trump administration's pursuit of the death penalty for Mangione marks a new development in the shifting politics of capital punishment in the United States, which has seesawed for more than half a century. —Kristin Wright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025

Compared with the methods of the mid-20th century, today’s techniques are considerably more precise. —Frieda Klotz, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025

There’s a deep history of glassware production in Central Europe dating back to the 19th century, and today it’s centered on makers in Austria (home to Zalto and Riedel, to name just two), Switzerland, and Germany. —Jordan Michelman, Wired News, 25 Apr. 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