annual

American  

[an-yoo-uhl] / ˈæn yu əl /

adjective

1. of, for, or pertaining to a year; yearly.

   annual salary.

2. occurring or returning once a year.

   an annual celebration.

3. Botany. living only one growing season, as beans or corn.

4. performed or executed during a year.

   the annual course of the sun.

5. Entomology. living or lasting but one season or year, as certain insects or colonies of insects.

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noun

1. Botany. a plant living only one year or season.

2. a book, report, etc., published annually.

annual British  

/ ˈænjʊəl /

adjective

1. occurring, done, etc, once a year or every year; yearly

   an annual income

2. lasting for a year

   an annual subscription

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noun

1. a plant that completes its life cycle in less than one year Compare perennial biennial

2. a book, magazine, etc, published once every year

annual Scientific  

/ ăn′yo̅o̅-əl /

1. Completing a life cycle in one growing season.

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1. An annual plant. Annuals germinate, blossom, produce seed, and die in one growing season. They are common in environments with short growing seasons. Most desert plants are annuals, germinating and flowering after rainfall. Many common weeds, wild flowers, garden flowers, and vegetables are annuals. Examples of annuals include tomatoes, corn, wheat, sunflowers, petunias, and zinnias.

2. Compare biennial perennial

Other Word Forms

• annually adverb
• interannual adjective
• interannually adverb

Etymology

Origin of annual

1350–1400; < Late Latin annuālis, equivalent to Latin annu ( us ) yearly (derivative of annus circuit of the sun, year) + -ālis -al ¹; replacing Middle English annuel < Anglo-French < Latin

Example Sentences

The president of the European Central Bank stood up and left the opening dinner of the annual World Economic Forum.

From The Wall Street Journal

Real private domestic demand grew at an annual rate of 2.4% in Q4, a bit lighter than we anticipated, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see this revised higher.

From Barron's

The company has absorbed billions of dollars in annual losses each year since 2022, the last year of the pandemic-era vaccine boom.

From Barron's

Berkshire Hathaway releases its earnings and annual report on Saturday, the first time under CEO Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett at the beginning of the year.

From Barron's

Port of Los Angeles Executive director Gene Seroka outlined upcoming infrastructure and climate investments at the 11th annual State of the Port.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• yearlong