centenarian

noun

cen·​te·​nar·​i·​an ˌsen-tə-ˈner-ē-ən How to pronounce centenarian (audio)
-ˈne-rē-
: one that is 100 years old or older
centenarian adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web Catering to social connections is also a value of centenarians in blue zones. Renée Onque, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024 In all, 15 centenarians reside at the Stanton assisted living facility, ranging in age from 100 to 107. Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register, 12 Oct. 2024 The Census Bureau estimates 101,000 centenarians live in the U.S., making up just 0.03% of the population. Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024 Politics in Brief Carter the centenarian: Jimmy Carter turns 100 years old today — a feat that no other former U.S. president has reached. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for centenarian 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'centenarian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centenarian was in 1747

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Dictionary Entries Near centenarian

Cite this Entry

“Centenarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centenarian. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

centenarian

noun
cen·​te·​nar·​i·​an ˌsent-ᵊn-ˈer-ē-ən How to pronounce centenarian (audio)
: a person 100 years old or older
centenarian adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on centenarian

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