semiannual
Americanadjective
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Also occurring, done, or published every half year or twice a year; biannual.
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lasting for half a year.
a semiannual plant.
adjective
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occurring every half-year
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lasting for half a year
Usage
What does semiannual mean? Semiannual means twice a year (or, technically, once every half a year). The word semiyearly means the same thing as semiannual. The words biannual and biyearly can be synonyms of semiannual, but they can also mean once every two years (every other year). Although semiannual is only used to mean twice a year—not every two years—it can still be confusing. The best (and maybe only) way to be perfectly clear is to just say “twice a year.”It’s especially used to describe events, as in semiannual sale—a sale that happens twice a year. Less commonly, semiannual can also mean lasting for half a year, as in To participate in the semiannual internship, you must be available for the full six months. The adverb form of semiannual is semiannually. Examples: The dentist recommends a checkup every six months, so I guess I have to make my semiannual appointment.
Commonly Confused
See bi- 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of semiannual
Compare meaning
How does semiannual compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
The semiannual interest payouts would stay the same for 20 years, while their expenses would vary.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
An additional 7% percent said they would take advantage of the semiannual reporting option, but also publish select financial data, such as sales figures, on an interim basis outside the twice-per-year reporting periods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
In a story published today, I wrote about how companies would tweak their financial reporting if the Securities and Exchange Commission gives them an option to report earnings on a semiannual basis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Most said they have processes in place to disclose material information outside of semiannual reporting periods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
The Lost-N-Found Gazette.Ryan’s semiannual collection of items found lying around campus.
From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
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