semimonthly

American  

[sem-ee-muhnth-lee, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈmʌnθ li, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. made, occurring, done, or published twice a month.

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noun

plural

semimonthlies

1. something occurring every half month or twice a month.

2. a semimonthly publication.

adverb

1. twice a month.

   We went semimonthly to see her.

Usage

What does semimonthly mean? Semimonthly means twice a month. It can be used this way as an adjective, as in a semimonthly meeting, or an adverb, as in We plan to meet semimonthly. The word bimonthly is a synonym, but it can also mean once every two months. Although semimonthly is typically only used to mean twice a month—not every two months—it can still be confusing. The best (and maybe only) way to be perfectly clear is to just say “twice a month.”Semimonthly can also be used as a noun referring to a semimonthly event or a publication that’s published twice a month (as opposed to a weekly or daily, for example). Example: Let’s plan to meet semimonthly, on the first and third Monday.

Commonly Confused

See bi- ¹.

Etymology

Origin of semimonthly

First recorded in 1855–60; semi- + monthly

Example Sentences

This isn’t the first time Francis has called out American critics, nor is it the first time La Civiltà Cattolica, a 173-year-old semimonthly, has been the vehicle reporting such criticism.

From Washington Times • Aug. 28, 2023

UDC employees affected under this act are paid semimonthly, while D.C. government employees are paid biweekly — resulting in two fewer paychecks per year for university employees.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

However Haber declined to answer questions about whether the provision applied to so called semimonthly workers like the teaching assistant, who has provisional status because she does not yet have a teaching credential.

From Washington Post • Aug. 16, 2021

After 23 years as a chronic money-loser, Liberty turned from a weekly into a semimonthly in February, a 10� monthly in August.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cases of semimonthly menstruation and many similar anomalies of periodicity are spoken of.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)