anniversary

[ an-uh-vur-suh-ree ]

noun

, plural an·ni·ver·sa·ries.

1. the yearly recurrence of the date of a past event:

   the tenth anniversary of their marriage.

2. the celebration or commemoration of such a date.
3. wedding anniversary.

adjective

1. returning or recurring each year; annual.
2. pertaining to an anniversary: : anniv.

   an anniversary gift.

anniversary

/ ˌænɪˈvɜːsərɪ /

noun

1. the date on which an event occurred in some previous year

   a wedding anniversary

2. the celebration of this

adjective

1. of or relating to an anniversary
2. recurring every year, esp on the same date

Word History and Origins

Origin of anniversary¹

1200–50; Middle English anniversarie (< Anglo-French ) < Medieval Latin ( diēs ) anniversāria anniversary (day), Latin anniversārius recurring yearly, equivalent to anni- (combining form of annus year) + vers ( us ) turned, past participle of vertere ( vert- turn + -tus past participle suffix) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of anniversary¹

C13: from Latin anniversārius returning every year, from annus year + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

As you know by now, Disrupt is going completely virtual for its 10th anniversary.

From TechCrunch

The anniversary’s coinciding with the Democratic National Convention raises the issue of political tactics.

From Fortune

Halfpenny and two coauthors also present that data, and those stories, in a 2020 book celebrating the 25th anniversary of howling as the trailers arrived.

From Science News

We’ll be taking a deeper look at that coverage as we approach the 100th anniversary of the magazine.

From Science News

Two days after the 81st anniversary of Accra’s most destructive earthquake, three earth tremors in under 10 minutes shook the sleeping city on Thurs.

From Quartz

In 1995, Myerson made a point not to attend the 75th anniversary of the Miss America pageant.

From The Daily Beast

Liu was nearing the 20th anniversary of his arrival in America, having landed from China on Christmas Eve, 1994, at the age of 12.

From The Daily Beast

It is anniversary that will go largely unacknowledged, like so much else about the history of the event.

From The Daily Beast

This year will represent the 20th anniversary of the first Running of the Santas.

From The Daily Beast

The coming anniversary is marked by little stickers that say “We remember” or “We are human too,” but little else.

From The Daily Beast

But perhaps, since you are Americans and have come a long way, he may admit you on this special anniversary.

From Project Gutenberg

The citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia, celebrated the 108th anniversary of the settlement of that place.

From Project Gutenberg

The duke of Wellington attacked by a mob in the streets of Londonthe anniversary of his victory at Waterloo.

From Project Gutenberg

A few days ago a great festival took place at Mannheim, on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of Beethovens birth.

From Project Gutenberg

The church of Smyrna celebrated the anniversary of their martyred bishops passion with joy and gladness as his natal day.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ceremony
• commemoration
• festival
• holiday
• jubilee