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

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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, nounper·en·ni·al·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perennial

annual, perennial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use perennial in a sentence

It wasn’t until the 1990s that a series of high-profile protests, wildlife protections for animals like the northern spotted owl, and court cases made the Northwest’s old-growth forests the center of a perennial conservation battle.
3 New Environmental Podcasts You'll Want to Binge|Erin Berger|November 11, 2020|Outside Online
You may have heard about Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, the local millionaire who’s a perennial candidate for president and has run for a very long list of other offices around the nation too.
Politics Report: Winners and Losers Special Edition|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|November 7, 2020|Voice of San Diego
They said that the best chance Ossoff and Warnock had came on this first ballot when turnout was so high for the presidential race, calling Ossoff a “perennial loser” who already lost a special election for a House seat in 2017.
Control of the Senate heads into overtime as Georgia braces for runoff elections|Paul Kane|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
Will Taylor, gear directorOne of my perennial struggles as a very short runner is finding tights that fit properly.
The Gear Our Editors Loved in October|The Editors|November 5, 2020|Outside Online

It revisits a highly contentious and perennial debate in criminal justice reform that has been playing out across the country.
Here are the main tech ballot initiatives that passed in this election|Abby Ohlheiser|November 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Since the beginning of the decade, the Badgers have reached the Rose Bowl three times and have perennially been in the Top-25.
How The University of Wisconsin Badgers Are Bucking the Big Ten Ticket Flop|Brian Weidy|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the world of video gaming, the debate about violence is perennially argued and never quite resolved.
Playing Violent Video Games Makes You a Better Person, Study Says|Kevin Zawacki|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Haskins will perennially be attached to the indelible Saved By the Bell principal.
The Most Random Old TV Stars to Appear on ‘Mad Men’|Kevin Fallon|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They went 13-19, good enough for sixth place in the perennially-unimpressive Big West Conference.
The March Madness Teams to Cheer If Yours Got Bounced|Ben Teitelbaum|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Campaign finance issues are perennially a low priority to voters.
The Democrats’ Dumb Koch Strategy|Kristen Soltis Anderson|March 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Besides, the mortifying experience at the Paris Exposition has dampened even my perennially youthful enthusiasm.
In Search of the Unknown|Robert W. Chambers
It is perennially delightful; in France it has been dramatized, and is still played.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
But to go back to that perennially interesting question, Concerning Servants; put down $200 under Service.
Living on a Little|Caroline French Benton
But a part of the mistrust lies in the fact that it is not vision but the perennially half-doubted hearing that is in issue.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
But—to hark back to the butcher and apothecary—verses are perennially made upon Pg 149Mr.
Adventures in Criticism|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

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 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