triennial

[ trahy-en-ee-uh l ]

/ traɪˈɛn i əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR triennial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

occurring every three years.

lasting three years.

noun

a third anniversary.

something that appears or occurs every three years.

a period of three years; triennium.

RELATED WORDS

tertiary, tertian

Nearby words

Origin of triennial

First recorded in 1555–65; trienni(um) + -al¹

Related formstri·en·ni·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for triennial

For years, the triennial confab has been remarkable mostly for airy oratory by national leaders playing to the crowd back home.
Summit of the Americas in Cartagena Will Be a Minefield for Obama|Mac Margolis|April 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Lupton, Cara McCarty, Matilda McQuaid, and Cynthia Smith curated the Triennial.
The Curator's Tale|Ellen Lupton|July 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
As the elections were triennial, the strongest interest was made for the next turn.
Letters from Spain|Joseph Blanco White
This was the Triennial Act, limiting the duration of Parliament to three years.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright

This was also the great house of the thousand soldiers, and the place where the Fes or triennial assemblies were held.
An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800|Mary Frances Cusack
This was no other than a scheme to repeal the triennial act, and by a new law to extend the term of parliaments to seven years.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.|Tobias Smollett
He started against the Carringtons on the line of the enthusiasts, advocating the ballot and triennial Parliaments.
The Earl of Beaconsfield|James Anthony Froude

British Dictionary definitions for triennial

triennial

/ (traɪˈɛnɪəl) /

adjective

relating to, lasting for, or occurring every three years

noun

a third anniversary

a triennial period, thing, or occurrence

Derived Formstriennially, adverb

Word Origin for triennial

C17: from Latin triennium

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

Word Origin and History for triennial

triennial

adj.

1630s, "lasting three years;" 1640s, "occurring every three years," from Latin triennium "three-year period," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + annus "year" (see annual). For vowel change, see biennial.