bimonthly
Americanadjective
-
occurring every two months.
-
occurring twice a month; semimonthly.
noun
plural
bimonthliesadverb
-
every two months.
Next year we plan six field trips to take place bimonthly.
-
twice a month; semimonthly.
adjective
-
every two months
-
(often avoided because of confusion with sense 1) twice a month; semimonthly See bi- 1
noun
Usage
What does bimonthly mean? Bimonthly is commonly used to mean one of two things: once every two months or twice per month. It can be used this way as an adjective, as in a bimonthly meeting, or an adverb, as in We plan to meet bimonthly. Yes, you can sometimes figure out what bimonthly means from the context of the sentence. But not always. The term bimonthly meeting might mean that it happens twice a month or every two months—both senses of the word are commonly used. Here’s the best (and maybe only) way to be perfectly clear: just say “twice a month” or “once every two months.”Bimonthly can also be used as a noun referring to a publication that’s published twice per month or once every two month (as opposed to a daily or weekly, for example). Examples:
- New episodes of my bimonthly podcast come out on the first and 15th of every month.
- Let’s plan to meet bimonthly so we can fit in six meetings this year.
Commonly Confused
See bi- 1.
Etymology
Origin of bimonthly
Explanation
When you do something twice a month, you do it bimonthly. Your bimonthly book club meeting will keep you busily reading to stay caught up. Bimonthly is one of a group of confusing words (including biweekly and biannually) that have two meanings. You can use bimonthly to mean both "twice a month" and "every two months." The roots of the word are the Latin bi-, "twice" or "double," and monthly. The double definition means you might need to clarify how often your book club will actually meet.
Vocabulary lists containing bimonthly
List 4
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bi-
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List 10
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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.
Additionally, some data were collected on a bimonthly basis, which means the effects of the shutdown confusion haven’t completely unwound.
From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026
On residents’ bimonthly bills from the Department of Water and Power, the increases will show up under the line item “Solid Resource Fee.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2025
The program provides approximately 40 pounds of medically tailored groceries on a bimonthly basis to food-insecure patients suffering from chronic conditions.
From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024
She does not call it a magazine, but a journal, even a bimonthly book.
From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2024
In return, IOI gave you a bimonthly paycheck, food, lodging, health-care benefits, and a retirement plan.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
