tricentenary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal
Quick answer
What does “tricentenary” mean?
the three-hundredth anniversary of an event.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the three-hundredth anniversary of an event.
A period, event, or celebration marking 300 years since a significant occurrence. Can also function as an adjective describing something related to such an anniversary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical or grammatical differences. 'Tricentennial' is a slightly more common alternative in US English, though 'tricentenary' is understood.
Connotations
Both variants carry identical formal, historical connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both dialects. Slightly higher frequency in British English due to older institutions celebrating such anniversaries.
Grammar
How to Use “tricentenary” in a Sentence
celebrate/observe the tricentenary of [NP]the tricentenary [NP] commemorates/falls onVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tricentenary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The city will tricentenary its founding with a year of events. (Note: Verb form is exceptionally rare and non-standard)
American English
- [No standard verb usage]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial usage]
American English
- [No standard adverbial usage]
adjective
British English
- The university published a tricentenary history of the college.
American English
- The museum hosted a tricentennial exhibit on the town's founding. (US preference)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate history publications for very old companies.
Academic
Used in historical writing, commemorative papers, and institutional histories.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific to historiography and commemorative event planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tricentenary”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tricentenary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tricentenary”
- Confusing spelling: 'tricentennial' vs. 'tricentenary'.
- Mispronouncing the stress: it's on the 'ten' syllable (/senˈTE/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are synonyms. 'Tricentenary' is slightly more common in British English, while 'tricentennial' is preferred in American English. Both mean '300th anniversary'.
It can function as both a noun ("the tricentenary") and an adjective ("a tricentenary celebration"). The noun form is more frequently used.
In British English: /ˌtraɪ.senˈtiː.nər.i/. In American English: /ˌtraɪ.senˈte.nər.i/. The primary stress is on the 'ten' syllable.
You would encounter it primarily in formal historical texts, official commemorative materials, or news reports about 300-year anniversaries of institutions, cities, or major events.
the three-hundredth anniversary of an event.
Tricentenary is usually formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Tri' (three) + 'cent' (hundred, as in century) + 'enary' (related to years/anniversary).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE PATH (marking a point 300 years along it).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a synonym for 'tricentenary'?