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

There happens to be another anniversary, Tuesday, to acknowledge.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sir Keir said it was "un-British to have little respect for others" by staging demonstrations on the anniversary and argued the protests had been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

Read more on BBC

Friday's celebrations mark the 114th anniversary of the toppling of China's Qing dynasty and the subsequent founding of the Republic of China.

Read more on Barron's

As the current market rally approaches its third anniversary this month, investors know this feeling, too.

Read more on Barron's

He confesses that, writing with the aid of Nelle Fortenberry, his longtime producing partner, he put the book together rapidly to hit shelves in time for the film’s 40th anniversary.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ceremony 
• commemoration 
• festival 
• holiday 
• jubilee