Century
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3
Historical Eras
Centuries categorize history into 100-year blocks to simplify reference to specific eras. The Renaissance spanned the 14th to the 17th century.
Pro Tip 2/3
Ordinal Numbers
When talking about centuries, use ordinal numbers like 20th, 21st to describe sequential order. The telephone was invented in the 19th century.
Pro Tip 3/3
Common Misunderstanding
The 20th century refers to the years 1900-1999, not 2000-2099, as might be commonly misunderstood. World War II happened in the 20th century.