quinquennial

American  

[kwin-kwen-ee-uhl, kwing-] / kwɪnˈkwɛn i əl, kwɪŋ- /

adjective

1. of or lasting for five years.

2. occurring every five years.

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noun

1. something that occurs every five years.

2. a fifth anniversary.

3. a five-year term in office.

4. a quinquennium.

quinquennial British  

/ kwɪnˈkwɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. occurring once every five years or over a period of five years

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noun

1. another word for quinquennium

2. a fifth anniversary

Other Word Forms

• quinquennially adverb

Etymology

Origin of quinquennial

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin quīnquenni ( s ) of five years + -al ¹

Example Sentences

He could emerge as head of the resurrected Central Financial Work Commission, when state leaders, regulators and top bankers gather for a quinquennial, closed-door national financial work conference.

From Reuters • Oct. 30, 2023

Athens’s current reputation as an up-and-coming art hub was sealed in 2017, when the arts organization Documenta chose the city to serve, along with Kassel, Germany, as a host of its much-anticipated quinquennial exhibition.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2021

The 1972 Documenta 5, its poster featuring an illusionistic swarm of busy little ants drawn by Ed Ruscha, is widely regarded as the best of all the quinquennial shows, before or since.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2018

A liquid totem called The Aether is almost in Malekith the Dark Elf’s nefarious grasp, just in time for the quinquennial cosmic event known as the Convergence.

From The Guardian • Mar. 2, 2017

Harsha then proceeded to Allahabad to superintend a quinquennial distribution of alms.

From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 2 by Eliot, Charles, Sir