bicentennial
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or in honor of a 200th anniversary.
bicentennial celebration; a bicentennial exposition.
-
consisting of or lasting 200 years.
a bicentennial period.
-
occurring every 200 years.
the bicentennial return of a comet.
noun
-
a 200th anniversary.
The United States had its bicentennial in 1976.
-
a celebration of such an anniversary.
Commonly Confused
See bi- 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bicentennial
First recorded in 1880–85; bi- 1 + centennial
Explanation
The two-hundredth anniversary of something is its bicentennial. In 1976, the United States celebrated its bicentennial, two hundred years after adopting the Declaration of Independence. The word bicentennial adds the prefix bi-, or "two," to centennial, which is rooted in the Latin centum, or "one hundred." The U.S. is a relatively young country, so we've only celebrated a few bicentennials, including the two-hundredth birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. You can use this word as an adjective too: "Next year is the bicentennial anniversary of our ancestors' arrival in North America."
Vocabulary lists containing bicentennial
Perfect Ten: Dec, Cent, Mille
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
dec, cent, mille
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
ann, enn
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By 1976, mom and dad had split, and as the bicentennial approached, it looked like I wouldn’t get to see the usual wild display of pyrotechnics and potential loss of limbs.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
Historians are in broad agreement that this year’s celebration has garnered far less attention than the bicentennial, marked in 1976, which generated blanket media coverage and widespread national excitement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
The bicentennial quarter, minted for the occasion, still occasionally turns up in pocket change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Another capsule, created for that year's bicentennial, is stored at the National Archives, to be opened in 2076, said Rios.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
He picked out a bicentennial quarter and handed it to Rufus.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
