decennial
Americanadjective
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of or for ten years.
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occurring every ten years.
noun
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a decennial anniversary.
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its celebration.
adjective
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lasting for ten years
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occurring every ten years
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decennial
1650–60; < Latin decenni ( um ) a period of ten years ( decenn ( is ) decennary + -ium -ium ) + -al 1
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.
So far, India has redrawn parliamentary seats three times based on the decennial census in 1951, 1961 and 1971.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
Celebrities like Dua Lipa and Lena Dunham have posted wistful, washed-out pictures celebrating the decennial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
When will it issue its maps after the decennial census?
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025
Some states have taken serious steps to do that by enacting laws that require commissions to redraw the lines after the decennial census, or by using computer models.
From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2025
But be that as it may, the war broke out in the reign of Polydorus and Theopompus, kings of Sparta, at the time when the office of archon at Athens was still decennial.
From The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Macedonians and Grecians (Vol. 1 of 6) by Rollin, Charles
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.
