anniversary

[an-uh-vur-suh-ree]

noun

plural

anniversaries 

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

Thousands of troops and state personnel will take part in a military parade Tuesday to mark the anniversary, in keeping with other key dates in September in ideologically-aligned neighbours China and Vietnam.

Read more on Barron's

The Cladhan was once a favoured placed for wedding receptions, anniversaries and birthday parties.

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Pope Leo XIV on Friday visited the ruins in Iznik, as present-day Nicaea is called, to mark the council’s 1700th anniversary.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To mark the 14th anniversary of his death, Everton have installed a 'talking bench' on the fan plaza as a way to "encourage conversation, tackle loneliness and isolation, and signpost people to mental health support".

Read more on BBC

His stop in Iznik will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a gathering of bishops in the year 325 that resulted in a statement of faith still central to Christianity.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• ceremony 
• commemoration 
• festival 
• holiday 
• jubilee