Definition and meaning of English word "century"
century
/ˈsɛntʃəri/
Meaning
NounA period of one hundred consecutive years; often specifically a numbered period with conventional start and end dates, e.g., the twentieth century, which stretches from (strictly) 1901 through 2000, or (informally) 1900 through 1999. The first century AD was from 1 to 100.
How to use
The term 'century' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to denote a period of 100 years. It is often specifically numbered, such as the 'twenty-first century', which spans from 2001 to 2100. A learner should note that when using 'century' in a sentence, it is essential to use the correct ordinal number (e.g., 'the twenty-first century' rather than 'the twenty-firstth century').
🇬🇧 English
century
Example
I was born last century
This is a new century
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- twenty-first century— twenty-first century
- a century ago— a century ago
- century old— century old
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #412 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "century" mean?▼
The English word "century" means "century" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "century"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "century" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "century"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Measuring time" (which translates as "century").
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