Is 'half-century' always about 50 years?

Primarily yes, but in cricket it specifically means a score of 50 runs by a single batsman.

Should I write it with a hyphen?

Yes, 'half-century' is the standard hyphenated compound noun.

What's the difference between 'half a century' and 'a half-century'?

Very little in meaning. 'Half a century' is slightly more conversational, while 'a half-century' is slightly more formal or technical.

Can I use it for things other than time or cricket?

It's occasionally used for any group of fifty (e.g., 'a half-century of poems'), but this is an extension of its core meaning.

half-century

Medium

UK/ˌhɑːf ˈsɛn.tʃər.i/US/ˌhæf ˈsɛn.tʃə.ri/

Neutral to formal, with specific technical use in sports (cricket).

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A period of fifty years.

A score of fifty in cricket; broadly, a notable or significant amount, especially fifty of something.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

As a time period, often used to mark historical milestones or personal ages. In cricket, it is a major achievement for a batsman.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Far more common in British English due to the centrality of cricket. In American English, primarily used for historical time periods.

Connotations

UK: Strong sporting connotation (cricket). US: Primarily temporal/historical.

Frequency

High frequency in UK sports media; medium-low in general US English.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

to score a half-centurya half-century of progressthe past half-century

medium

mark a half-centurycelebrate a half-centurynearly a half-century

weak

long half-centuryimportant half-centuryrecent half-century

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[verb] + a/the half-century (e.g., reach, celebrate, mark)[preposition] + the half-century (e.g., over, for, in)[adjective] + half-century (e.g., past, entire, remarkable)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

fifty (in cricket)fifty-year period

Neutral

fifty yearsfive decades

Weak

lengthy periodseveral decades

Vocabulary

Antonyms

centurydecadequarter-century

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“To turn the half-century (to turn 50 years old).”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare. 'The company has evolved over the past half-century.'

Academic

Common in history, sociology. 'Social attitudes have shifted dramatically in the last half-century.'

Everyday

For age or approximate time. 'My grandparents have been married for half a century.'

Technical

Core terminology in cricket scoring.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The batsman managed to half-century just before lunch.
He has half-centuried more than any other player this season.

American English

(Rarely, if ever, used as a verb in US English.)

adverb

British English

(Not standard usage.)

American English

(Not standard usage.)

adjective

British English

A half-century partnership saved the innings.
She gave a half-century review of the project.

American English

The nation underwent a half-century transformation.
A half-century commemoration was held.

Examples

By CEFR Level

My grandma is half a century old!

He has worked at the same factory for half a century.

The discovery marked a turning point after a half-century of research.

The poet's work, spanning a half-century, reflects the tumultuous history of the era.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a century (100) and cut it in HALF. HALF-CENTURY = 50.

Conceptual Metaphor

TIME IS A MEASURABLE DISTANCE (spanning a half-century).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid direct calque 'пол-века' as it's unnatural. Use 'пятьдесят лет' or 'полвека' (but note 'полвека' is one word and less formal).
In cricket context, translate as 'полтинник' (fifty runs) or 'пятьдесят очков'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'half-century' as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'half century milestone' is incorrect).
Confusing 'half a century' (phrase) with 'half-century' (compound noun).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The veteran cricketer scored a crucial to steady his team's innings.

Multiple Choice

In which context is 'half-century' MOST likely to be a headline?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Primarily yes, but in cricket it specifically means a score of 50 runs by a single batsman.
: Yes, 'half-century' is the standard hyphenated compound noun.
: Very little in meaning. 'Half a century' is slightly more conversational, while 'a half-century' is slightly more formal or technical.
: It's occasionally used for any group of fifty (e.g., 'a half-century of poems'), but this is an extension of its core meaning.