perennial

[ puh-ren-ee-uhl ]

/ pəˈrɛn i əl /

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See synonyms for: perennial / perennials on Thesaurus.com

adjective

lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.

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

lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream.

perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.

(often initial capital letter) (of an older person’s mindset, interests, or lifestyle) outside of any specific generational label; ageless; timeless: She has a Perennial mindset and is always open to new ideas.

noun

a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.

something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring: Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.

(often initial capital letter) an older person whose mindset, interests, or lifestyle does not fit into any specific generational label: His new album earned him a spot on the website’s list of top ten perennials to watch 30 years after his first hit song was released.

OTHER WORDS FOR perennial

1 perdurable; constant, incessant, continual.

4 imperishable, undying, eternal, immortal.

See synonyms for perennial on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of perennial

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin perenni(s) “lasting the whole year through” (per- ”through, by” + -enn-, combining form of annus “year” + -is adjective suffix) + -al¹;see per- (def. 1)

OTHER WORDS FROM perennial

per·en·ni·al·i·ty

[puh-ren-ee-al-i-tee], /pəˌrɛn iˈæl ɪ ti/, nounper·en·ni·al·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perennial

annual, perennial

Words nearby perennial

peremptory, peremptory challenge, peremptory exception, Perendale, perennate, perennial, perennially, perentie, Peres, perestroika, Peretz

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perennial in a sentence

They were blessed with two of the top 10 quarterbacks ever, back to back, and they’ve been a perennial contender.
Aaron Rodgers, entering a showdown with Tom Brady, has gone from chippy to chill|Jerry Brewer|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
Lou Williams, a perennial sixth man of the year candidate, has started slowly and has missed Montrezl Harrell, his longtime pick-and-roll partner.
The Clippers don’t look ready to seriously challenge the Lakers|Ben Golliver|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
Simmons said Scott has broken what had become a troubling pattern in education giving — of the rich getting ever richer — a perennial trend that reinforces racial inequities.
‘Transformational’: MacKenzie Scott’s gifts to HBCUs, other colleges surpass $800 million|Nick Anderson, Lauren Lumpkin|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
West won 60,160 votes in California as perennial candidate Roque de la Fuente’s candidate for vice president, but he didn’t ask to be put on that ballot and urged voters to write his name in for president instead.
The Trailer: What we learned from the 2020 election, now that it's officially over|David Weigel|December 17, 2020|Washington Post

Zoom was the most-downloaded iPhone and iPad app of the year, beating perennial favorites like Instagram and YouTube.
The pandemic was great for Zoom. What happens when there’s a vaccine?|Rani Molla|December 4, 2020|Vox
Their cases illustrate the perennial challenge of balancing ends and means in the complex world of intelligence operations.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Iowa is a perennial swing state, and polls show the race in a virtual tie.
The Bruce Braley-Joni Ernst Race Is Iowa’s Ugliest Senate Campaign Ever|Ben Jacobs|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the omission or derision of dads in the parent (aka “mommy”) blogosphere is a perennial pet peeve.
Move Over, Ladies: Dove Does Dads|Andy Hinds|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A perennial signature flavor is Flying Elvis: banana ice cream that contains peanut butter and chocolate chunks.
The Secret to This Ice Cream: Pampered Cows|Jane & Michael Stern|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the GOP, all this raises a perennial question from the movie New Jack City: “Who else you got?”
Why the GOP Needs a Return to the Bush Leagues|Robert Shrum|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They foreclose without mercy, but that does not frighten their old patrons, who have the perennial optimism of the country.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
As they went down into the valley of the Thyme, the babble of the stream rose into the air like a perennial laughter.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
It was on the square of land where she had had her perennial bed for three years, and now she had decided to sow it down to grass.
Country Neighbors|Alice Brown
Although the Nestor of composers, none equalled him in manly vigour and perennial youth.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
In discussing literature, they spoke of the perennial stock-in-trade of the republic of letters—woman's sin.
Honorine|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for perennial

perennial

/ (pəˈrɛnɪəl) /

adjective

lasting throughout the year or through many years

everlasting; perpetual

noun

a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two yearsCompare annual (def. 3), biennial (def. 3)

Derived forms of perennial

perennially, adverb

Word Origin for perennial

C17: from Latin perennis continual, from per through + annus year

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

Scientific definitions for perennial

perennial

[ pə-rĕn′ē-əl ]

Adjective

Living for three or more years.

Noun

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. Compare annual biennial.

perennial

OTHER WORDS FOR perennial

Origin of perennial

OTHER WORDS FROM perennial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perennial

Words nearby perennial

Words related to perennial

How to use perennial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perennial

Derived forms of perennial

Word Origin for perennial

Scientific definitions for perennial