perennial

American  

[puh-ren-ee-uhl] / pəˈrɛn i əl /

adjective

1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring.

   As my grandmother aged, I marveled at her perennial beauty.

   Synonyms:

   continual, incessant, constant, perdurable

2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.

3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year.

   The interpretive boardwalk follows a perennial stream through the marsh to the lake.

4. arising repeatedly or always existing; perpetual; recurrent.

   Tie dye is a perennial hit with children of all ages.

   The perennial rivalry between the two colleges ramps up during football season.

   Synonyms:

   immortal, eternal, undying, imperishable

5. Sometimes Perennial relating to or being an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes; ageless.

   Many companies are seeking to retain their perennial workers so as not to lose institutional history.

   This writer is a Perennial thinker, which is why he is successful and yet not really popular.

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noun

perennials plural

1. a plant with a life cycle lasting more than two years.

   Daffodils and tulips are perennials.

2. something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring.

   Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.

3. Sometimes Perennial an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes.

   At 81, the mayor calls herself a Perennial with no plans to retire.

perennial British  

/ pəˈrɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. lasting throughout the year or through many years

2. everlasting; perpetual

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noun

1. a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years Compare annual biennial

perennial Scientific  

/ pə-rĕn′ē-əl /

1. Living for three or more years.

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1. A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials.

2. Compare annual biennial

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• perenniality
  noun
• perennially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perennials
  plural

Etymology

Origin of perennial

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin perenni(s) “lasting the whole year through” ( per- per- ( def. ) + -enn-, stem of annus “year” + -is, adjective suffix) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Perennial typically describes things that are permanent, constant, or repeated. If you fight with your parents every year over whether they really must invite your annoying cousins for Thanksgiving, you could call that a perennial conflict. Arguing with your roommate about who cleaned the bathroom last time might be a perennial argument. There is also a perennial plant, which lasts more than two years and usually reappears each spring, because it produces flowers and seeds from the same root structure. Perennial comes from the Latin perennis, from the prefix per-, "through," plus annus, or "year." Annus is also the source of our English word annual — an annual plant lives only one year or season.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perennial perennials

But bigger than every NFL game outside of the Super Bowl, the perennial ratings blockbuster, was not on their radar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Those are perennial threats named in reports by both Democratic and Republican administrations.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Few people experience perennial happiness and contentment, but if you feel weighed down by these events, you can look at the impact it has had on you psychologically and emotionally.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

Surfboards, ladders, long-stock lumber, the perennial Christmas tree—all of it can stick through the open hatch window long enough to get where you’re going.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

Here, in case you don’t know what it is yet, is the perennial example, as espoused by Harold Ross: “The flag is red, white, and blue.”

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

More than 250 varieties of plants, particularly grasses and perennials, are present here, arranged across seven gardens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2025

This year's guest list was conspicuously missing screen stars or celebrity faces, with not even royal perennials like Sir David Beckham or Sir Elton John attending.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2025

Koons said he’s excited to use native succulents and drought-tolerant plants as well as perennials and annuals that will provide a richness of color.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2025

Today, it’s a charismatic landscape with spaces for gathering, recreational activities, strolling pathways, and delightful gardens filled with flowering perennials and waving grasses.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024

Plants that do this are called perennials because they come back year after year.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• chronic
• continual
• continuing
• eternal
• never-ending
• persistent
• recurrent
• seasonal