Century facts for kids

A century is a way to measure a long period of time. One century is exactly one hundred years. For example, the 21st century started in 2001 and will end in 2100.

The idea of a century comes from Ancient Rome. The ancient Romans used the word centuria to describe a group of about one hundred soldiers. This group was organized as a single unit in their army.

The Roman numeral for 100 is "C". The word for 100 in Latin is "centum", which is where "century" gets its name.

Understanding Centuries

What is a Centenary?

A centenary is a special celebration. It marks something that happened exactly 100 years ago. For example, if a school was built in 1924, its centenary would be celebrated in 2024.

Other similar celebrations include:

• A bicentenary celebrates 200 years.
• A tercentenary celebrates 300 years.

Who is a Centenarian?

A centenarian is a person who is 100 years old or even older. It's quite an achievement to live for a century!

What Does Centennial Mean?

The word centennial describes something that happens every 100 years. It can also mean something that lasts for 100 years. For instance, a centennial event might be a festival held every century.

See also

• In Spanish: Siglo para niños