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

This coming Thanksgiving, my grandfather along with his younger brother, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will celebrate the 76th anniversary of his arrival.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Earlier this year, a selection of 75 works was shown in Amsterdam, part of the celebrations of the 750th anniversary of the city’s founding.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a blog to celebrate their wedding anniversary five years ago, Sir Richard said he "fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her".

Read more on BBC

Happy 10th anniversary to Mac Miller’s “GO:OD AM”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This is the 10th anniversary of a season that makes people smile when they reminisce about all the personalities involved, all the images they saw, all the greatness that was on display.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ceremony 
• commemoration 
• festival 
• holiday 
• jubilee