centenary
noun
cen·te·na·ry sen-ˈte-nə-rē 
ˈsen-tə-ˌner-ē,
-ˌne-rē,
especially British
sen-ˈtē-nə-rē plural centenaries
: centennial
centenary adjective
Did you know?
A centenary, like its cousin centennial, is an anniversary. Thus, the year 2013 may mark the centenary of a town's founding, and the year-long calendar of public events that the town sponsors for the occasion—that is, the celebration of the anniversary—can also be called a centenary. Individuals have their own centenaries, which usually celebrate their births; thus, Gerald Ford's centenary will occur in 2013, and John Kennedy's in 2017. And if you live long enough to be a centenarian, you'll be around to join the celebrations.
Example Sentences
This year marks the centenary of the building's construction.
Recent Examples on the Web Queen Elizabeth wore royal blue again while attending a service of Thanksgiving to mark the centenary of The Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey alongside her daughter, Princess Anne, who wore a bright purple ensemble. 
Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 To mark the centenary of the composer’s birth, Mr. Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra are recording performances of his five sinfonias at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the NSO label. Barbara Jepson, WSJ, 21 June 2022 In 2014, the moat was memorably filled with more than 800,000 ceramic poppies to mark the centenary of the outbreak of WWI. Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 30 May 2022 Alain Resnais, whose centenary is being celebrated in a retrospective at Film Forum, began his career with three features whose radical formalism remains, to this day, conceptually unsurpassed. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2022 The centenary of the novel’s publication is being marked in Dublin with official enthusiasm climaxing on Bloomsday, June 16. Fintan O’toole, The Atlantic, 16 June 2022 On the outskirts of town, the Ojai Valley Inn will celebrate its centenary next year. Dania Maxwell, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2022 Meghan and Harry also joined royals on the iconic balcony to watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force in July 2018. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 19 Apr. 2022 The movie event will screen in 900 movie theaters nationwide on Jan. 17, 2022, the day of White’s centenary. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Dec. 2021 See More
Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 To mark the centenary of the composer’s birth, Mr. Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra are recording performances of his five sinfonias at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the NSO label. Barbara Jepson, WSJ, 21 June 2022 In 2014, the moat was memorably filled with more than 800,000 ceramic poppies to mark the centenary of the outbreak of WWI. Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 30 May 2022 Alain Resnais, whose centenary is being celebrated in a retrospective at Film Forum, began his career with three features whose radical formalism remains, to this day, conceptually unsurpassed. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2022 The centenary of the novel’s publication is being marked in Dublin with official enthusiasm climaxing on Bloomsday, June 16. Fintan O’toole, The Atlantic, 16 June 2022 On the outskirts of town, the Ojai Valley Inn will celebrate its centenary next year. Dania Maxwell, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2022 Meghan and Harry also joined royals on the iconic balcony to watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force in July 2018. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 19 Apr. 2022 The movie event will screen in 900 movie theaters nationwide on Jan. 17, 2022, the day of White’s centenary. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin centenarium, from Latin centenarius of a hundred, from centeni one hundred each, from centum hundred — more at hundred
First Known Use
1661, in the meaning defined above