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
Now, Montblanc wants to enter the tech sphere with a new digital writing pad, inspired by its century of experience producing pens.
—
James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
In the case of Barbadian sugar estates in the seventeenth century, Russell Menard has derived average rates of return of 7 to 8 percent annually.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Jon Wertheim has talked to Dana White, commissioner of the UFC, about his quarter century at the helm of the mixed martial arts promoter.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
The choice of location echoed the 18th-century French references in Anderson’s first designs for the house.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for century
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James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
In the case of Barbadian sugar estates in the seventeenth century, Russell Menard has derived average rates of return of 7 to 8 percent annually.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Jon Wertheim has talked to Dana White, commissioner of the UFC, about his quarter century at the helm of the mixed martial arts promoter.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
The choice of location echoed the 18th-century French references in Anderson’s first designs for the house.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for century
Cite this Entry
“Century.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/century. Accessed 26 Sep. 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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