almanac
Americannoun
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an annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of such events and phenomena as anniversaries, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon, tides, etc., and other statistical information and related topics.
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a publication containing astronomical or meteorological information, usually including future positions of celestial objects, star magnitudes, and culmination dates of constellations.
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an annual reference book of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports, entertainment, etc.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of almanac
1350–1400; Middle English almenak < Medieval Latin almanach < Spanish Arabic al the + manākh calendar < ?
Explanation
An almanac is an annual publication devoted to the facts and statistics of a given subject. You might consult a sports almanac for the coming year's scheduled games, or information on your favorite (or least favorite) player. The background of the noun almanac is somewhat hazy, with some suggesting it came from the Greek almenichiakon and others suggesting it came from the Spanish-Arabic al-manakh, both meaning "calendar." The astronomical almanac was once a book of permanent tables, with the annual version appearing in the 16th Century. Perhaps the most famous almanacs were Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, and the Farmer's Almanac, published continuously since 1792, which offers weather predictions as well as astronomical tables and gardening tips.
Vocabulary lists containing almanac
National Librarian Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Sporadic dialogue, like a wedding speech and a game show segment, is intended to represent an almanac of data, submitted by paying members of the public, that creates “the definition” of humanity.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2024
Although neither almanac will share the details of its formula, both are open about what goes into their predictions.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 10, 2023
The oldest southern resident, a female known as L25, is estimated to have been born in 1928 — her body a living almanac of nearly a century of humanity’s runoff.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2023
The almanac estimates that the moon will appear 7% bigger than “normal” full moons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2023
Nat handed his almanac to the stranger, and turned back to Ben.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
They read popular almanacs, and learned and admired the intricacies of orreries—mechanical models of the celestial sphere—that they flocked to view at numerous colleges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
Both almanacs claim authority from the long heritage of the formulas they use.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 10, 2023
Astrology endured only in the publication of monthly or annual almanacs.
From National Geographic ● Aug. 24, 2023
Those who need some calming reading at this point in time should consider The Old Farmer’s Almanac — which informs the Beltway that the brand new 2023 almanacs are “shipping now.”
From Washington Times ● May 1, 2023
Unsavory sorts murmured indelicacies at cutlet stands; grandmothers consulted almanacs to determine a propitious hour for the betrothal.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
