sesquicentennial: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Institutional, Historical
Quick answer
What does “sesquicentennial” mean?
Relating to the 150th anniversary of an event or institution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to the 150th anniversary of an event or institution.
Pertaining to a period of 150 years; the celebration or observance of a 150-year milestone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; the word is equally formal and rare.
Connotations
Associated with major institutions (universities, cities, corporations), historical societies, and grand public celebrations.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both; appears primarily in official planning documents, historical publications, and commemorative materials.
Grammar
How to Use “sesquicentennial” in a Sentence
The [INSTITUTION] celebrated its sesquicentennial.Plans are underway for the [EVENT]'s sesquicentennial.The sesquicentennial of [FOUNDING/BATTLE/TREATY] will be in [YEAR].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sesquicentennial” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The college's sesquicentennial was marked by a series of public lectures and a gala dinner.
- The museum is preparing a special exhibition for the town's sesquicentennial.
American English
- The university launched a fundraising campaign leading up to its sesquicentennial.
- The sesquicentennial of the railroad's completion will be celebrated next fall.
adjective
British English
- The sesquicentennial parade featured historical reenactments.
- They published a sesquicentennial history of the borough.
American English
- The sesquicentennial committee released its event schedule.
- A sesquicentennial postage stamp was issued to commemorate the occasion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used by long-standing corporations for milestone marketing and legacy branding.
Academic
Common in historical research, university chronicles, and institutional histories.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation; reserved for news reports about major anniversaries.
Technical
Used in historiography, museum studies, and public history planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sesquicentennial”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sesquicentennial”
- Misspelling: 'sesquicentenial' (missing one 'n').
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (*SES-qui-centennial) instead of the primary stress on '-ten-'.
- Using it as a general adjective for anything 150 years old, rather than specifically for an anniversary celebration.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sesquicentennial' is the far more common term, especially in American English. 'Sesquicentenary' is a rare variant, following the pattern of 'centenary'.
No, it is not used for personal birthdays. It is exclusively used for the anniversaries of events, foundings, or institutions. A person living to 150 would be described as '150 years old'.
Centennial (100), Quasquicentennial (125), Sesquicentennial (150), Bicentennial (200), Tercentennial (300).
No. It is a low-frequency, highly specific word. Most natives would say '150th anniversary'. Knowledge of this word often indicates a higher education level or involvement with historical institutions.
Relating to the 150th anniversary of an event or institution.
Sesquicentennial is usually formal, academic, institutional, historical in register.
Sesquicentennial: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛskwɪsɛnˈtɛnɪəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛskwɪsɛnˈtɛniəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SESQUI- (one and a half) + CENTENNIAL (100-year anniversary) = a one-and-a-half-centuries anniversary.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE JOURNEY / INSTITUTIONS ARE LIVING ENTITIES WITH BIRTHDAYS.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'sesquicentennial' specifically refer to?