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
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 15 May 2026
People often look to centenarians (people who are 100 years or older) for the secret to healthy aging.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 11 May 2026
At this moment, there are more living centenarians who are mothers than at any time in human history.
—Andre Mouchard, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Sir David Attenborough is almost a centenarian.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for centenarian
Cite this Entry
“Centenarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centenarian. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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centenarian
noun
