century - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
century Word Meanings
- a period of 100 years
- a hundred-year span
- a significant period in time
century Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
century Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈsɛn.tʃər.i/
US
/ˈsɛn.tʃər.i/
century Word Etymology
century comes from Latin centuria, from centum meaning "hundred". Imagine counting from 1 to 100 over the course of a century, marking significant events with each passing year.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I hold the loose spine of a calendar in my hands and push it forward across the desk. The days slide by as pages turn, and the line of time stretches from week to month to a long, steady arc. I adjust my grip and follow the slow drift, and I let the weight of the moment guide the pace. In that quiet motion I feel a century begin to open—long enough for people to change, grow, and build, not in a single moment but in a slow, ongoing thread.
Real Context
A century is a unit that marks a period of 100 years, often used to describe long stretches of history or broad social change. In conversation and writing, English speakers refer to specific centuries by ordinal numbers, for example the nineteenth century or the twenty-first century. Learners often confuse century with decade (10 years) or millennium (1000 years). Century can also be used metaphorically to denote a long era, as in “a century of innovation,” but when precision matters, it should be tied to an exact 100-year span. Remember that a century is different from merely a very long time.
Usage Reminders
- Use century for precise 100-year spans
- Distinguish century from decade or millennium
- Use ordinal forms: the nineteenth century, the twenty-first century
- When talking about a vague long time, prefer era or age
- Pair century with specific dates or events for clarity
Common Misconceptions
- Century always means a vague, very long time
- Confusing century with decade or millennium
- Thinking the 21st century is simply 'the future'
- Using century without tying it to a specific date/era
- Assuming every 100 years is the same era across cultures
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: English often binds century to specific dates and uses ordinal forms; learners must not blur 100 years with a vague long time or confuse with decades.
Learning Tips
- Practice dating centuries: 19th vs 20th century
- Read historic timelines to see centennials
- Notice the ordinal suffixes: -th, -st, -nd, -rd
- Use phrases like 'in the 21st century' or 'in the 1800s'
- Compare century vs decade in examples
- Keep a small glossary of related terms like era, age, period
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
Which of the following is the best definition of the word 'century'?
A.A team of one hundred soldiers.
B.A period of one hundred years.
C.A celebration held every hundredth year.
D.A rate of one hundred occurrences per minute.
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'century' correctly?
A.The building has stood for over a century.
B.She added a century of sugar to the batter.
C.Please hand me the century from the drawer.
D.He wrote a century on the form instead of his name.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which option is most similar in meaning to the word 'century'?
A.decade
B.millennium
C.hundred years
D.anniversary
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which option is most opposite in meaning to the word 'century'?
A.decade
B.millennium
C.instant
D.year
Step 5: Mastery
Which prompt describes a real-life context where using the previously learned word would be appropriate?
A.Can you describe a quick reaction that lasts only a split second?
B.Can you give an example of a historical event that took place one hundred years ago?
C.Can you explain how to boil an egg in five minutes?
D.Can you tell how many pages you read yesterday?
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