quadrennial
Americanadjective
-
occurring every four years.
a quadrennial festival.
-
of or lasting for four years.
a quadrennial period.
noun
adjective
-
occurring every four years
-
relating to or lasting four years
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of quadrennial
1640–50; earlier quadriennial < Latin quadrienni ( um ) ( see quadrennium) + -al 1
Explanation
The U.S. presidential election is a quadrennial event, something that happens every four years. And because the word also means "lasting four years," you can say that the newly-elected President will serve a quadrennial term. While the "happening every four years" meaning is more common, you can use the word quadrennial in both ways. You might describe your high school years, ninth to twelfth grade, as a quadrennial, while also referring to your favorite quadrennial sporting event, Olympic figure skating. This word is from the Latin quadri-, "four," and -ennial, from annus, "year."
Vocabulary lists containing quadrennial
ann, enn
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quad, quar (four)
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quadr
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s rare that candidates are nominated through conventions, which are often opportunities for endless speeches—much like the quadrennial political conventions that national parties hold to ratify their nominees.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
It capped a month of massive viewing for the quadrennial tournament.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
England faces the quadrennial drama over whether it’s finally coming home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Soccer, it will lead to yet another round of introspection in what has become a quadrennial routine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Abolition candidates for the presidency began to be heard of and to be voted for at every quadrennial election.
From Notable Events of the Nineteenth Century Great Deeds of Men and Nations and the Progress of the World by John Clark Ridpath
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
