jubilee

[ joo-buh-lee, joo-buh-lee ]

noun

1. the celebration of any of certain anniversaries, as the twenty-fifth silver jubilee, fiftieth golden jubilee, or sixtieth or seventy-fifth diamond jubilee.
2. the completion of 50 years of existence, activity, or the like, or its celebration:

   Our college will celebrate its jubilee next year.

3. any season or occasion of rejoicing or festivity.
4. rejoicing or jubilation.
5. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. an appointed year or other period, ordinarily every 25 years ordinary jubilee, in which a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.
   2. a period of time extraordinary jubilee declared by the pope as a time of rejoicing, as for an anniversary, when a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.
   3. Also called jubilee indulgence. the plenary indulgence granted during such a period.
6. Also Jubile. Chiefly Biblical. a yearlong period to be observed by Jews once every 50 years, during which Jewish slaves were to be freed, alienated lands were to be restored to the original owner or an heir, the fields were to be left untilled, and all agricultural labors were to be suspended. Compare sabbatical year ( def 2 ).
7. a Black American folk song concerned with future happiness or deliverance from tribulation.

adjective

1. flambé ( def 1 ):

   We had cherries jubilee for dessert.

jubilee

/ ˈdʒuːbɪˌliː; ˌdʒuːbɪˈliː /

noun

1. a time or season for rejoicing
2. a special anniversary, esp a 25th or 50th one
3. RC Church a specially appointed period, now ordinarily every 25th year, in which special indulgences are granted
4. Old Testament a year that was to be observed every 50th year, during which Hebrew slaves were to be liberated, alienated property was to be restored, etc
5. a less common word for jubilation

Word History and Origins

Origin of jubilee¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English iubile, iubilee, from Middle French jubilé, from Late Latin jūbilaeus, from Greek iōbēlaîos (with ō and ē becoming u and i by assimilation to Latin jūbilāre “to shout for joy”), from Hebrew yōbhēl “ram, ram's horn, ram's horn used as a trumpet, trumpet, jubilee”

Word History and Origins

Origin of jubilee¹

C14: from Old French jubile, from Late Latin jubilaeus, from Late Greek iōbēlaios, from Hebrew yōbhēl ram's horn, used for the proclamation of the year of jubilee; influenced by Latin jūbilāre to shout for joy

Example Sentences

Pisani said the order was issued in light of the "intensification of the phenomenon of so-called 'short-term rentals'" as well as "the numerous political, cultural and religious events being planned", including the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee celebrations.

From BBC

This year, announcing the Church’s 2025 Jubilee of Hope, Pope Francis again called for “the abolition of the death penalty, a provision at odds with Christian faith and one that eliminates all hope of forgiveness and rehabilitation.”

From Salon

There were two additional bank holidays in 2022: one to mark the day of the late Queen's funeral, and another for the Platinum Jubilee to create a four-day weekend for commemorative events in early June.

From BBC

Paddington also famously had tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II during the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee.

From BBC

Houses on Jubilee Road, where the property is located, had an average sale price of £83,000 over the past year, according to Rightmove.

From BBC

Related Words

• anniversary
• bash
• birthday
• ceremony
• festival
• festivity
• gala
• observance
• party
• performance
• spree
• triumph