decennial

[dih-sen-ee-uh l]

See more synonyms for decennial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or for ten years.
occurring every ten years.

noun

a decennial anniversary.
its celebration.

Origin of decennial

1650–60; < Latin decenni(um) a period of ten years (decenn(is) decennary + -ium -ium) + -al¹

Related formsde·cen·ni·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for decennial

decimal, decennial, decuple, denary, tenfold

Examples from the Web for decennial

Historical Examples of decennial

This year marks the decennial of the movement in the United Kingdom.
History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III)
Various
Period of the decennial archons, seven of whom succeeded between 752—682.
A Manual of Ancient History
A. H. L. (Arnold Hermann Ludwig) Heeren
Are you prepared to have, after every decennial census, a new distribution of members among electoral districts?
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 4 (of 4)
Thomas Babington Macaulay
We also observe that the percentage of decennial increase gradually decreased from 1234 per cent.
Japan and the California Problem
Toyokichi Iyenaga
The threat of the Belgian deputies to oppose the decennial budget was now carried out.
History of Holland
George Edmundson

British Dictionary definitions for decennial

decennial

adjective

lasting for ten years
occurring every ten years

noun

a tenth anniversary or its celebration

Derived Formsdecennially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for decennial

adj.

1680s, from Latin decennium, from decennis "of 10 years," from decem "ten" (see ten) + annus "year" (see annual). For vowel change, see biennial.