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
Angostura 7-Year-Old (Trinidad & Tobago) Angostura has been producing rum since the early 20th century.
—
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The resulting Pendleton Act in 1883 started the process of creating a professional bureaucracy, and reforms continued into the 20th century to ensure that these roles were allocated based on merit.
—Yong Kwon / Made By History, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
The Plaza’s grand architecture, complete with towers, fountains, and sculptures, has been a fixture of Kansas City life for nearly a century.
—Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025
The conflict between the two South American countries over the resource-rich Essequibo region has been going for over a century.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for century
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Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The resulting Pendleton Act in 1883 started the process of creating a professional bureaucracy, and reforms continued into the 20th century to ensure that these roles were allocated based on merit.
—Yong Kwon / Made By History, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
The Plaza’s grand architecture, complete with towers, fountains, and sculptures, has been a fixture of Kansas City life for nearly a century.
—Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025
The conflict between the two South American countries over the resource-rich Essequibo region has been going for over a century.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for century
Articles Related to century
Cite this Entry
“Century.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/century. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
century
noun
cen·tu·ry
ˈsench-(ə-)rē
plural centuries
1
: a group of 100 things
2
: a period of 100 years
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