jubilee

American  

[joo-buh-lee, joo-buh-lee] / ˈdʒu bəˌli, ˌdʒu bəˈli /

noun

• jubilees
  plural

1. the celebration of any of certain anniversaries, as the twenty-fifth silver jubilee, fiftieth golden jubilee, or sixtieth or seventy-fifth diamond jubilee.

2. the completion of 50 years of existence, activity, or the like, or its celebration.

   Our college will celebrate its jubilee next year.

3. any season or occasion of rejoicing or festivity.

4. rejoicing or jubilation.

5. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. an appointed year or other period, ordinarily every 25 years ordinary jubilee, in which a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.

   2. a period of time extraordinary jubilee declared by the pope as a time of rejoicing, as for an anniversary, when a plenary indulgence is granted upon repentance and the performance of certain religious acts.

   3. Also called jubilee indulgence.  the plenary indulgence granted during such a period.

6. Chiefly Biblical. Also Jubile a yearlong period to be observed by Jews once every 50 years, during which Jewish slaves were to be freed, alienated lands were to be restored to the original owner or an heir, the fields were to be left untilled, and all agricultural labors were to be suspended.

7. a Black American folk song concerned with future happiness or deliverance from tribulation.

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adjective

1. flambé.

   We had cherries jubilee for dessert.

jubilee British  

/ ˈdʒuːbɪˌliː, ˌdʒuːbɪˈliː /

noun

1. a time or season for rejoicing

2. a special anniversary, esp a 25th or 50th one

3. RC Church a specially appointed period, now ordinarily every 25th year, in which special indulgences are granted

4. Old Testament a year that was to be observed every 50th year, during which Hebrew slaves were to be liberated, alienated property was to be restored, etc

5. a less common word for jubilation

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Usage

What is a jubilee? A jubilee is a particular anniversary of a special occasion or the celebration of such an anniversary. In particular, the word jubilee is often used to refer to celebrations that mark the anniversary of the coronation of a monarch. The word is often used in tandem with special terms that indicate the length of the reign. Certain jubilees are referred to with specific names to indicate a particular anniversary. For example:

• silver jubilee: 25th anniversary
• golden jubilee: 50th anniversary
• diamond jubilee: 60th anniversary (or 75th anniversary)
• platinum jubilee: 70th anniversary

(These modifiers are often applied to the word anniversary as well, as in silver anniversary and platinum anniversary.)In 2022, a platinum jubilee was planned for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in anticipation of the 70th anniversary of her coronation (making her the first British monarch in history to reign long enough to celebrate a platinum jubilee). Example: Rulers from around the world attended the Queen’s jubilee. The word jubilee is used in more specific ways in the contexts of Roman Catholicism and Judaism to refer to certain periodic religious occasions. More generally, the word jubilee can refer to any joyous celebration or time of rejoicing. This general sense is the basis for the more specific use of the word jubilee to refer to a Black American folk song concerned with future happiness or deliverance from tribulation.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• jubilees
  plural

Etymology

Origin of jubilee

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English iubile, iubilee, from Middle French jubilé, from Late Latin jūbilaeus, from Greek iōbēlaîos (with ō and ē becoming u and i by assimilation to Latin jūbilāre “to shout for joy”), from Hebrew yōbhēl “ram, ram's horn, ram's horn used as a trumpet, trumpet, jubilee”

Explanation

A jubilee is the celebration of the anniversary of a special event, or it’s the anniversary itself. Which basically means it’s a birthday party. Here’s something you might not know: the word jubilee comes from the Hebrew word yobel, which means “ram’s horn trumpet.” If you’ve ever celebrated the Jewish New Year, it’s possible you've heard a ram’s horn trumpet played to mark the jubilee. In Judaism, the Jubilee Year is a year of freedom from enslavement which is celebrated every fifty years. But that horn gets played every year. What’s a jubilee without a ram’s horn trumpet?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jubilee jubilees

But the silver jubilee was a moment to forget our problems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

I am not alone in criticizing the so-called jubilee on the National Mall.

From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026

During the visit next Wednesday and Thursday Charles and Camilla will join Leo in celebrations to mark the current special jubilee year, held every 25 years, the palace statement said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025

Tens of thousands of Catholics had gathered in Rome for Easter Mass during this special jubilee year, which takes place every 25 years and sees millions of pilgrims descend on the city.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2025

“Sound the jubilee; the Midwest team wins another medal.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

“The Flag Was Still There” places the two subsequent jubilees against this historical context, outlining demographic changes, political developments and technological advances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The award given to King Hamad as well as King Abdullah of Jordan – who are both marking silver jubilees this year – was announced on Wednesday by Buckingham Palace.

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2024

Having returned to Buckingham Palace, the big finale - as it is for weddings, jubilees and other major royal events - is the appearance by the senior Windsors on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

From Reuters ● May 4, 2023

For decades they have wallowed in royal weddings, jubilees, scandals and, most recently, the queen’s funeral.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2023

The Jews used this instrument on occasions of joy, such as jubilees and festivals.

From The Harp of God by J. F. (Joseph Franklin) Rutherford

Related Words

• anniversary
• bash
• birthday
• ceremony
• festival
• festivity
• gala
• observance
• party
• performance
• spree
• triumph