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centenarian

[ sen-tn-air-ee-uhn ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to or having lived 100 years.


noun

  1. a person who has reached the age of 100.

centenarian

/ ˌɛԳɪˈɛəɪə /

noun

  1. a person who is at least 100 years old
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. being at least 100 years old
  2. of or relating to a centenarian
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of centenarian1

First recorded in 1745–50; from Latin Գٱ(ܲ) ( centenary ) + -an
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In the video, Poole begs the deputies for help: “Don’t lose me!” the centenarian said.

From

The centenarian lived long enough to read, see and even contribute to a justifiably kinder account of his time in office.

From

Many of California’s wharves and piers are now centenarians.

From

The centenarian said she likes to keep busy.

From

Sardinia’s centenarians were not evenly distributed across the island, the researchers found.

From

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More About Centenarian

What doescentenarian mean?

A centenarian is someone who is 100 years old or older.

Centenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone who’s 100 or older, as in The ceremony honored centenarian veterans, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my centenarian years.

It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s).

Someone who is 110 years or older can be called a supercentenarian. Actually, if you’re 110 or older, you can be called whatever you want.

Example: I can’t believe I’m going to be a centenarian—tomorrow I turn 100!

Where doescentenarian come from?

Centenarian comes from the Latin word Գٱ(ܲ), from Գŧ(ī), meaning “a hundred each,” from cent(um), “one hundred.” The suffix -an is used to indicate a person (as seen in common words like pedestrian and historian).

Living to be 100 is becoming more common, but it’s still somewhat rare. The word centenarian is often used in celebration of the achievement, or as a fancy or fun way of referring to someone of that age. As much fun as it is to say, it’s perhaps more often used in writing. It’s also used in the context of highlighting a person who’s doing something that may be surprising for their age, as in These centenarians who still exercise every day never cease to impress me.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for centenarian?

  • 100-year-old
  • 100-something

What are some words that share a root or word element with centenarian?

What are some words that often get used in discussing centenarian?

How iscentenarian used in real life?

Centenarian is often used in a celebratory way.

Try usingcentenarian!

Is centenarian used correctly in the following sentence?

I can’t believe I’m nearing my centenarian years—40 seems like yesterday.

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